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VERY IMPORTANT! Thermal Paste?!

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  • Desktops
  • Thermal Compound
  • CPUs
Last response: in CPUs
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October 13, 2014 9:28:04 PM

Hey, I need an answer quickly. I've got an i3 2120 running without any thermal paste as I don't know what to get, the PC is off at the moment but I had it on earlier and the temp never passed 38 degrees. That was just when I was on the desktop and nothing was open. Is my CPU safe if I have the PC on? Also, can you recommend me some very cheap thermal paste in New Zealand?
Thanks.

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October 13, 2014 9:34:05 PM

Don't Intel's stock coolers come with thermal paste pre-applied? AMD's certainly do.
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October 13, 2014 9:35:18 PM

ThatVietGuy said:
No, your CPU is not safe.

I'll let someone else recommend NZ-specific paste.


Doesn't thermal paste just keep the temps low? I read that the i3 2120 idles at about 35-39 degrees normally with thermal paste. I didn't completely remove the thermal paste so there is a tiny layer of the cpu and cooler. Also, would it be safer if I used my other CPU cooler which has a bit of thermal paste left on it? (Quite a thick later) if I just spread it evenly over the CPU cooler?
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October 13, 2014 9:40:25 PM

viewtyjoe said:
Don't Intel's stock coolers come with thermal paste pre-applied? AMD's certainly do.


I got a computer off a family friend and pretty much rebuilt it but I used the same processor. I had to take the cpu cooler off to check what CPU the computer had as my PSU hadn't arrived yet.
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October 13, 2014 9:41:21 PM

Thermal paste creates a more suitable surface for the CPU to interact with the heatsink.

Using a heatsink without a thin layer of thermal paste is inadvisable and foolish. It might be fine at idle, but once you put more load onto the CPU your temperatures will skyrocket.

If you have to, take the other paste you have and use it for now, but I advise using fresh thermal paste.
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October 13, 2014 9:42:35 PM

ThatVietGuy said:
Thermal paste creates a more suitable surface for the CPU to interact with the heatsink.

Using a heatsink without a thin layer of thermal paste is inadvisable and foolish. It might be fine at idle, but once you put more load onto the CPU your temperatures will skyrocket.


So I shouldn't use my other CPU cooler with a thin layer of thermal paste on it?
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October 13, 2014 9:43:50 PM

As a temporary fix, but buy new paste.
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October 13, 2014 9:49:00 PM

ThatVietGuy said:
As a temporary fix, but buy new paste.


I went and got the CPU Cooler... This is how much it has on it: http://imgur.com/FG7wnYL
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October 13, 2014 9:50:37 PM

I definitely wouldn't use that.
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October 13, 2014 9:52:07 PM

ThatVietGuy said:
I definitely wouldn't use that.


I'll have to order some then. I need something under $5 NZD cause I am not overclocking.
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a c 250 à CPUs
October 13, 2014 9:52:52 PM

Ya don't reuse thermal paste

Shin Etsu is cheap and sits atop the charts

dunno where you shop in new zealand

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

http://nz.pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-thermal-paste-nt...
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October 13, 2014 9:54:10 PM

JackNaylorPE said:
The stock cooler comes with thermal paste .... did you scrape it off ?


lazou said:
viewtyjoe said:
Don't Intel's stock coolers come with thermal paste pre-applied? AMD's certainly do.


I got a computer off a family friend and pretty much rebuilt it but I used the same processor. I had to take the cpu cooler off to check what CPU the computer had as my PSU hadn't arrived yet.


C'mon.
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October 13, 2014 9:55:02 PM

JackNaylorPE said:
The stock cooler comes with thermal paste .... did you scrape it off ?


I didn't buy this CPU. I got this prebuilt PC off a friend and swapped out parts. I took the CPU Cooler off and scraped the thermal paste off.
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a c 250 à CPUs
October 13, 2014 9:57:50 PM

lazou said:
JackNaylorPE said:
The stock cooler comes with thermal paste .... did you scrape it off ?


I didn't buy this CPU. I got this prebuilt PC off a friend and swapped out parts. I took the CPU Cooler off and scraped the thermal paste off.


yea I noticed as I read after I typed that ... apparently you posted while I was afk ... see my finished post above



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October 13, 2014 9:59:19 PM

Thanks for the help :D  I'll have to find some cheaper thermal paste because that thermal paste is like $18 here
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October 13, 2014 10:00:07 PM

The Noctua paste JackNaylor linked is pretty good and a little cheaper.
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October 13, 2014 10:05:18 PM

I have it and it's very good.
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October 13, 2014 10:06:18 PM

Sweet, thanks loads everyone!
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October 15, 2014 9:29:20 AM

Can you re-select the best answer you chose lazou since another poster decided what you chose wasn't good enough.
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October 15, 2014 11:38:34 AM

ThatVietGuy said:
Can you re-select the best answer you chose lazou since another poster decided what you chose wasn't good enough.


Chose the noctua post as that's what I bought
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