Cleaning out a heatsink.

[w00p]

I just got a little upgrade.
The PC isn't ment for me in the end but atm I'm testing it out.
The upgrade consisted of an XP2400+@266 with 512MB PC3200@400 on an ASrock K741GX (I know, not too great mobo, but I must add that this PC isn't for gaming use, so the ubercrap onboard video doesn't matter too much.

Aside from that, here's the actual situation...
I now have at my disposal: P3 500MHz with 128MB SDRAM on a Gigabyte GA BX2000+ mobo with a PSU of a brand I've never heard of, but the PSU has never failed me a bit.

I'm gonna see how fast I can get the system using some old CD and floppy drives and case. I'm still in search of a decent HD though, I wouldn't want to use a 170MB DMA33 HD that came with the 486 I ripped other parts from.

So, the ACTUAL QUESTION: (finally )
The current heatsink is quite to extremely dusty. I once blowed into it quite powerfully and I instantly went to wash my face, get other clothes, rub out my eyes and flush my mouth.
I don't feel like cleaning up the mess a can of compressed air would make, so is it ok to simply wash it with water?

There is a thermal pad on it, the plastic has never been removed (n00b of a PC maker 5 years ago, wish I did it myself), so if I want to, I can re-use the pad, but that isn't a problem, I've got a tube of arctic silver 3 ceramique anyway.
So would it be ok to wash it? Or would it cause the aluminium to get rusty?

 

[funnyperson1]

Aluminum doesn't rust (well it oxidates, but the thin layer of oxidation at the top saves it from actually "rusting").

Go ahead and wash it as long as it isn't attached to the cpu . If you want you can dry it off quickly with a hair dryer.

Also check whether that is a katmai (512 cache) or coppermine (256 cache) if its a katmai you will have a lot of trouble getting it past 600mhz. If its a coppermine tell us what the stepping is and we can give you an approximation of how far you can push it.

 

[Stupid Boy]

I recommend using isopropyl alcohol because it will evaporate faster and will dissolve oils without soap.

 

[w00p]

Its a coppermine, I remember from CPU-Z readings a few days ago.
And damn you for reccommending me to dry it with a hair dryer! It nearly fried my fingers after aprox 10 seconds.

It does give a nice demonstration of how effective it conducts temperatures.
I did some tests later on with that concept.
If you blow the warm air on the finned side of the heatsink, the heatsinks base warms up extremely fast. As in it takes a few seconds.
If you do it the other way around, blowing warm air on the base, the fins take a bit longer to get really warm.

As I said, it really demonstrates how effective them fins are in maximizing heat tranfser surface.
Thanks for sacrificing my fingers for a demonstrational lesson.

Edit: Almost forgot, what do you mean with steppings?
The system isn't powered ATM and won't be until I find a decent HDD, so I'm guessing I won't be able to check anything, unless its written in the bios.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[funnyperson1]

Heh, I didn't mean for you to hold it while drying it, I put mine on the bathroom counter, and then let it cool down.

Well if you wanted to give us the info thats written on the cpu we can find the stepping that way. The easiest way woudl have been throught CPU-Z though, it just tells you.

It is good news that the chip is a coppermine, this means you can probably push it pretty far with good cooling.

 

[w00p]

I realized I had printed screenshots from CPU-Z once.
Where is the stepping written? I couldn't find anything.
Also, where is it written on my CPU? I looked at it but the only writings I could find where R-xx and C-xx (or something) numbers located next to those little components.
I could also find a longer number written right next to the heatspreader... Looked a bit like a serial number or something.
I also tried disconnecting the PCB with the CPU mount on it from the back plastic cap used to protect the CPU while attaching the heatsink.
Maybe there are some writings on the back, I though. I was trying to loosen it, but decided to give up because I heard creeking and cracking noises like an old door. I would like the CPU in one piece.

Could you tell me more specificly where to look for my "steppings"?
Thanks for the help and advice.

 

[funnyperson1]

The stepping should be in CPU-Z screenshot. It can be ca2, cb0, cc0, or cd0, with your chip it is probably a ca2 or if you're lucky a cb0. A cA2 chip starts to max out around 800mhz, and a cB0 has troubles after 900-1000, this is with good cooling.

My old cA2 PIII600E with an Alpha P3125S (the best slot 1 heatsink ever made) hit 876 before crapping out.

 

[w00p]

YES, YES, YES!


Stepping: 3
Revision : cB0

I'm the luckiest f*ck in the world!

****, now I've only got to find a good seccII heatsink.
Bleh, I'll just buy the first one I can find and mod it like hell. I've already got an idea of what to do.
Simply put in in a bench wrap and saw off all fins, then machine the top surface until it gets a near mirror finish and lap it to a mirror finish and then get some thermal adhesive and stick a nice'n'big alu heatsink on.
The entire clue is to use modern heatsinks used for CPU's that generate tons of heat on an older CPU that doesn't generate that much heat.
Plus, I can easily mount an 80MM fan on the HS then...

I may have to reinforce the heatsink thats slapped on with thermal adhesive.
I doubt the adhesive would hold it, since its a slot.
And even if it does, the slot itself won't hold it.

 

[funnyperson1]

Go to the overclockers.com cpu database and enter 500E to see what kind of speeds you can expect.

I would think you would get around 800-900 mhz.

I like your idea, but you might as well use a decent copper heatsink if you're going to go through all that work to put a new hs on, maybe something like a ThermalRight Sk7.

 

[w00p]

The reason why I didn't want a copper one is because its heavy.
Too heavy if you ask me...

Though I said I'm going to reinforce it, I don't mean dramatical stuff.
Something in the range of tie wraps...

 

[funnyperson1]

You would be quite surprised at how strong Artic Alumina/Silver adhesive is.

Look at the cooling gallery of pics in the Video and Sound section, you will see some MONSTER heatsinks held on only by AS Alumina adhesive.

Of course, the less stress on the slot, the better.