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73h n3wbc4nn0n
08-29-05, 12:17 PM
Hello all, I was cleaning my old P4 from 2001 that I got with a Dell computer, which has not had the same amount of luck. (Dad broke mobo when trying to force RAM into socket the wrong way.) So, I noticed some globs of thermal paste on the chip, along with some pink residue from a pink sheet that was under the thermal paste when they put it on, judging from the bottom of the cheap heatsink.

I rubbed some off the edges, then went to work on a concentrated dot of the white and pink mix. To my surprise, and horror, I noticed that the concentrated blob was covering a hole in the processor! It was perfectly round, and seemed to go down a way. I rubbed off enough thermal paste to make the surface uneven with the hole filled with thermal paste the slightest bit lower than everything else, which I believe will severely compromise the heat transfer process.

I have three questions:
1. What should I do about it, add more thermal paste over the hole when I next install it, or sand it down to be even since it isn't lapped?

2. Is this hole normal?

3. What's the name of the aluminum covering over the core, and the copper layer underneath, I forgot.

SolidxSnake
08-29-05, 12:21 PM
The hole is supposed to be there. It is a hole in the IHS for pressure equalization I believe.

The ONLY part of the CPU that makes heat is the dead center, the DIE of the processor. The IHS only SPREADS the heat (hence the name).

Don't worry about it

BadThad
08-29-05, 03:28 PM
Yep, they all have "the hole".

microfire
08-30-05, 06:20 AM
(Dad broke mobo when trying to force RAM into socket the wrong way.)

lol :D

moz_21
08-30-05, 10:23 AM
Didn't some people have problems if they got Arctic Silver in that hole (with Ceramique and non-conductive pastes having no effect)??