Arctic Silver dicision

[vodka314]

Ok, so Im going to buy some thermal paste, cuz Im upgrading my cpu and my hsf pretty soon. On NCIX.com they had Arctic Silver 3 premium silver polysynthetic thermal compound, which sounds pretty good, but is that all just consumer hype, and they also have regular arctic silver 2. Is it worth the extra $5 to get that crazy sounding thermal paste, or should I stick with arctic silver 2?

[Ridenow]

Unless you have to have the latest and greatest, save your $5. From what I have seen as long as you have a quality paste it matters more how you use it than if it is the "best"

Less is more with thermal compound.

[Christoph]

AS3 is definietly better than AS2, and in your position I'd spring on it, since thermal goop is usually the cheapest component of any computer system (excluding homemade stuff). It's really a matter of personal preference, IMHO, and if it doesn't appeal to you, then go for the AS2.
SVCompucycle (http://svcompucycle.com/) has free shipping on the all AS products, including AS3.

Edit: I just noticed that AS3 is US$7 shipped vs AS2 at US$5 shipped. Go for the AS3!

Edit: Messed up on price.

[arch5]

I'm interested as well,
I've got some ASII but haven't used it yet. I'm still getting really good results from the thermal grease that came with my Alphas.

I do know that some have had problems with ASII and it possibly had something to do with how much they applied to the HS.
Apparently you have to apply just the right amount, not too much, not too little. How to judge that, I don't know.

[Christoph]

Originally posted by a.k.hinkle
I'm interested as well,
I've got some ASII but haven't used it yet. I'm still getting really good results from the thermal grease that came with my Alphas.

I do know that some have had problems with ASII and it possibly had something to do with how much they applied to the HS.
Apparently you have to apply just the right amount, not too much, not too little. How to judge that, I don't know.

Try AS' site (http://arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm). Good stuff.
Don't eat it, and don't even think about using it to keep your eyes warm.

[arch5]

Ok, I just read the description of the ASIII and it sounds great, all except for the last part about the XEONS. It says they don't recommend using it on them because of their large surface area, does that go for P4s as well?

Someone Let us know.

[Bender]

Go ahead and use it on the P4. In general the lager the surfeace area the less thermal paset matters. AS3 will still lower your temps quite a bit.

[Hoot]

Originally posted by a.k.hinkle
I'm interested as well,
I've got some ASII but haven't used it yet. I'm still getting really good results from the thermal grease that came with my Alphas.

I do know that some have had problems with ASII and it possibly had something to do with how much they applied to the HS.
Apparently you have to apply just the right amount, not too much, not too little. How to judge that, I don't know.

This Urban Myth is starting to get a little old. Take two quarters and put a dollop of peanut butter on one. Take the other and put it on top of the dollop. Hold it between your thumb and forefinger and squeeze to 18 pounds. What happens to the excess peanut butter? The same happens to an excessive amount of AS when the HSF baseplate squeezes it against the top of the CPU core. Add the vibration from the fan and the heat from the core and any excess AS will squeeze out as the HSF base settles over a period of a few days use. Obviously, you don't want to ladle the AS on like a peanut butter sandwich, but the only issue in question is one of waste. Also obvious is the fact that should you choose to put it on like cake frosting and a lot oozes out, it will run down onto the top of your CPU substrate, possibly spreading out until it contacts components and traces on the top of the substrate. That is not a good condition to operate your CPU under, but then you'd have to be pretty uninformed to put so much on, not to mention having money to waste.

That, having been said. As several people have mentioned, the difference in price between AS2 and AS3 is not going to bankrupt any overclocker. So, why not "stack the deck" in your favor, as much as reasonably possible by getting the best thermal interface when you have several to choose from? Getting a CPU past some perfromance "speed bump" may only take a temperature change of a few degrees, depending upon the nature of your setup. I see people spend an entire evening see-sawing multipliers and bumping the FSB one Mhz at a time to get as close to the leading edge of performance as possible. If throwing $3.00 more at a challenge helps you get past it, by all means, find your wallet.

Hoot

[vodka314]

Well, I went ahead and got the AS 3.... so yeah, I hope it works good for me. :)

[Stick00]

well i just purchased some GC Type 44 non -contaminating heat sink compound...It has a 46% better heat tranfer than silicone products. it supposed to be better than AS 2 and 3>>>>>>>>>>.just my .02



note:> i have not put it on yet eheh waiting on my liquid cooler

[Colin]

Stick00 - Where did you hear that Type 44 is better than AS2?

[el]

Originally posted by IdeaMagnate
AS3 is definietly better than AS2, and in your position I'd spring on it, since thermal goop is usually the cheapest component of any computer system (excluding homemade stuff). It's really a matter of personal preference, IMHO, and if it doesn't appeal to you, then go for the AS2.
SVCompucycle (http://svcompucycle.com/) has free shipping on the all AS products, including AS3.

Edit: I just noticed that AS3 is US$8 shipped vs AS2 at US$5 shipped. Go for the AS3!

was 6.99 at svc