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AntmanMike
12-04-01, 10:09 PM
TweakNets Guide to using Arctic Silver Products:

1. Arctic Silver / Arctic Alumina Adhesive

A. On a GPU, first, lap the heatsink, using any method you want. I normally use 800 grit sandpaper, than Steel wool, then very high grit. Lap the GPU with very high grit until the text is gone and it is smoot. Clean both with high percentage Isopropyl alcohol. Next, put one dab of adhesive on every corner of the GPU, then do the rest with compound. This will keep a sure hold while allowing you to remove it later. Put pressure on the heatsink, then let it sit for 2 to 4 hours. It will cure faster under higher temperatures.

B. NOTICE ONLY USE ARCTIC ALUMINA WHEN WORKING WITH RAMSINKS!!! On RAMSinks, first, remove the RAMSinks, remove anything on them. If it is glue, use super glue remover. Then lap the heatsink, and use very high grit sandpaper, and lap the RAM for about 1 second. then clean both with very high grit sandpaper. Clean with high grade Isopropyl Alcohol. Then, apply a thin layer of Arctic Alumina adhesive (Mix in compound if you want removability, never use more than a 1:1 mix of Adhesive:Compound). Firmy press Heatsink and Ram together. Let cure for 2 to 5 hours. Using Arctic Silver can short the ram pins, and it is very dangerous.

C. On CPUs, never use adhesive. Ever.

D. On northbridge, use either adhesive or compound, be sure to lap and clean. I would suggest a 1 : .66 mix (Adhesive:Compound)

2. Arctic Silver / Arctic Alumina Compound

A. On the CPU, lap the heatsink using low grit, then steel wool, then high grit, then clean with isopropyl. Then, lap the CPU VERY CAREFULLY with VERY HIGH GRIT for a small ammount of time (on non IHS-modded P4s, you can lap the P4 all you want. If it is IHS modded, I think you can lap the blue CPU coating away. Be careful with heatsinks and IHS mods). Then, apply a thin coating of TIM (Thermal Interface Material) to the heatsink, in the area the CPU will be. Then apply a very thin layer to the CPU. (On AMD chipsets, be sure to use a shim. I recomend a non-conducting one. Shims just balance the heatsink better, so a copper or aluminum one offers no advantage over non conducting.) Then attach the heatsink WITHOUT ROCKING IT.

If this screws up your PC, read it again, cuz you did it wrong.

<note> This is by no means a replacement for Arctic Silver's own instructions, available at www.arcticsilver.com <note>

ButcherUK
12-05-01, 08:32 AM
I used AS2 on ramsinks without issues, you just have to be careful and not spread it on like jam. As for shims, pointless if you ask me - more likely to cause a short than anything else, even a non-conductive one if you go overbaord with the AS2.

AntmanMike
12-05-01, 07:08 PM
A shim can also save an Athlon.

ButcherUK
12-06-01, 01:20 AM
Originally posted by AntmanMike
A shim can also save an Athlon.

I'm yet to break one as are many others who don't use shims.

Wicked Klown
12-06-01, 04:29 AM
I'll 2nd that. Use a shim after all $20 insurance for a $100 - $200 chip.

Thelemac
12-06-01, 04:38 AM
Similarly to your other post...personal experience, not a review (or guide in this case). Please remove the sales pitch, too. Thanks. :)

AntmanMike
12-06-01, 05:58 AM
Sorry. Just trying to help.

dreadlord79
12-06-01, 06:07 AM
Is it safe to sand your ram and athlon die? From all the things I've read (they could be wrong...all of them), it's not a great idea to take the top off of the new CPU's! The memory I'm not sure of :confused: Could I get some feed back on this from the others on the board.

AntmanMike
12-06-01, 06:32 AM
I lapped (sanded) the RAM on my Geforce. Im not sure about new CPUs, im assuming this, Some people do it. Its safe on all Pentium 4's, new Celerons, etc, that have an IHS over the chipset. Its a big tin cover for the Core. I like taking it off. Its bad for thermal transfer.

Intraveinous
12-06-01, 07:45 AM
Originally posted by AntmanMike
Its a big tin cover for the Core. I like taking it off. Its bad for thermal transfer.

While it is another step to go through in the heat path, I think that the benefits of it outweigh the negatives. You don't see anyone ranting about what a copper coldplate does to thermal transfer in a peltier setup, but in essence, it does the same thing - Spread the heat from the core out so it has more contact area with the cooling method. I have no problem at all with people removing the IHS, cleaning it out, lapping the inside a little better, replacing the thermal goop intel puts in there with ASII, whatever, but Intel's engineers aren't dumb, their marketing people, yes, but not the engineers. Marketing doesn't get a say on whether or not it gets an IHS, so I think that it's on there for a reason... Plus, Chip - IHS = Shorter, you may not get good contact...
My $0.02 (actually more like $0.50 :D)
Peace
John