Copper Shim... Useful??

[!!tio!!]

Do you think Copper Shim is useful?

[Über~PhLuBB]

It is useful only for the purpose of protecting a CPU from cracking. They do not aid in heat dissipation, or looks. They are actually known to RAISE temperatures as much as 2°C because they do not allow airflow between the CPU's ceramic surround and HSF.

If you have a waterblock, it is a good idea to use a shim. If you have a HSF which requires an unusually large ammount of pressure to mount, you should use a shim. If you use a peltier, you should use a shim. Really, there is no other reason.

[!!tio!!]

does Hsf = heatsink + fan

n how come in HK everone wrote copper shim as overcloking cooling copper shim?

[Sonny]

I always thought shims were something to prevent the core from chipping during installation of the HSF or whatever you use to cool your CPU BUT they hinder cooling. Why not cut it in half, cleanly, then AFTER you attach your cooling apparatus you can slide it out being careful not to hit the core. It could work or not;)

[Sonny]

Originally posted by !!etomac!!
does Hsf = heatsink + fan

n how come in HK everone wrote copper shim as overcloking cooling copper shim? HSF = Heat Sink & Fan

They might say that to sell more;)

[William]

I am partial to the nonconductive shims myself. They aren't nearly as bad at all as the copper ones about raising temps. You don't need them for most heatsinks, but for the fop 38 on the duron I felt it had to have it(especially since I killed one duron before that).

[ButcherUK]

Shims are a bit of a false safety measure, they're not machined to close enough to the core height (unless you custiom made them for a particular cpu that's not possible). Using a shim may in fact increase your likelyhood of cracking the core as you;d take risks with them you might not take otherwise. Anyway it's hardly a challenge to mount a hsf / waterblock without smashing your core to fragments, just needs a little care.

[The Overclocker]

Originally posted by ButcherUK
Shims are a bit of a false safety measure, they're not machined to close enough to the core height (unless you custiom made them for a particular cpu that's not possible). Using a shim may in fact increase your likelyhood of cracking the core as you;d take risks with them you might not take otherwise. Anyway it's hardly a challenge to mount a hsf / waterblock without smashing your core to fragments, just needs a little care.

however if you are mounting a custom made water block or using your own hold down clip then a shim helps, most shims are designed for single types of cpu, not just because they have different things on the surface but they are differn hights

[ButcherUK]

By particular cpu I mean the actual cpu, not a particular type, even between two athons of similar specs the core height and pad spacing can vary significantly making shims to that much use.

[RangerJoe34]

hey dude, if you are going to get a shim at all, which i recommend because no one likes a chiped core...then go to hardcorecooling.com and get one of their annodized shims, they are non conductive unlike the copper shims.....i have tested my computer with and without the shim and with the shim was 2-3 c cooler than without ....so that is just my $0.02

later