[Admiral Falcon]

It's my first time building a system, and the one process that seems the most intricate is the heatsink mounting. I get the impression that if it isn't done just right, one can end up with a cracked CPU, a fried CPU, or scratched motherboard (from the clips). Because the thermal grease is conductive to heat, it's also conductive to electricity - and the Athlon's core is located right next to the bridges.

To avoid these problems, is there any reliable way to mount a heatsink that doesn't require thermal grease?

[Hardass]

No matter what cooling method, you need Thermal paste! If you take your time mounting a hsf should be no problem at all.

[-=UR=- Ranger]

Originally posted by Admiral Falcon
It's my first time building a system, and the one process that seems the most intricate is the heatsink mounting. I get the impression that if it isn't done just right, one can end up with a cracked CPU, a fried CPU, or scratched motherboard (from the clips). Because the thermal grease is conductive to heat, it's also conductive to electricity - and the Athlon's core is located right next to the bridges.

To avoid these problems, is there any reliable way to mount a heatsink that doesn't require thermal grease?

Don't worry too much about installing a HSF. It's not that difficult with most HSF's. Just take you time, be carefull and that's about it. Thermal paste is a MUST with todays hot running chips. There's a detailed instruction how to apply it correctly on Arctic Silvers Homepage...

p.s. Arctic silver III is only very sligthly conductive and will in most cases do no harm. But if you want to be on the save side you may use arctic alumina, which is completely unconductive to electricity...

Hope that helps

[Sniperboy]

Artic Alumina is a non-conductive thermal grease. Being thermally conductive does not make something automatically electrically conductive. Most stuff is both because metals like Copper and Aluminum are commonly used for thermal conductivity.

[rustymaitland]

3 words for you.

TAKE
YOUR
TIME

most people crack, scratch their boards etc. when they are rushing or frustrated or ultimately exert too much force when trying to install.
take your time.

[Ben Cole]

Dont worry, I felt like you a while back...very scared.
Now after installing CPUs and heatsinks numerous times it doesn't bother me at all.
The previous posts have good advice, I will re-iterate.
Take your time and use common sense. Do some research and reading to give yourself peace of mind.

[Sonny]

Originally posted by Admiral Falcon
It's my first time building a system, and the one process that seems the most intricate is the heatsink mounting. I get the impression that if it isn't done just right, one can end up with a cracked CPU, a fried CPU, or scratched motherboard (from the clips). Because the thermal grease is conductive to heat, it's also conductive to electricity - and the Athlon's core is located right next to the bridges.

To avoid these problems, is there any reliable way to mount a heatsink that doesn't require thermal grease?

Instructions for applying Arctic Silver thermal paste can be found HERE. Just follow that properly & you should be safe.