On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 2:46 PM, David C. Rankin wrote:

Listmates,

I thought I would pass on the results of a (non-official) scientific test concerning the huge difference in cpu temperature just a small difference in the amount of thermal grease can make. The results below are on an AMD thoroughbred 2400+ using Manhattan silver grease.

Test #1 (dab of grease on processor core with syringe, pencil eraser size, roughly 3mm high -- result - way too much)

w83697hf-isa-0290 temp2: +62.5°C (high = +120°C, hyst = +115°C) sensor = transistor

Test #2 (minimal amount of grease brushed on with Q-tip, very thin layer, much less than 1mm thick)

w83697hf-isa-0290 temp2: +51.0°C (high = +120°C, hyst = +115°C) sensor = transistor

Word to the wise, DON'T USE TOO MUCH GREASE!

Do you think it was the amount, or the even-ness of the application? Seems to me that the brushed version would be more evenly distributed than relying on the "smash" effect of a deb in the middle... -- ----------JSA--------- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

David C. Rankin wrote:

Listmates,

I thought I would pass on the results of a (non-official) scientific test concerning the huge difference in cpu temperature just a small difference in the amount of thermal grease can make. The results below are on an AMD thoroughbred 2400+ using Manhattan silver grease.

Test #1 (dab of grease on processor core with syringe, pencil eraser size, roughly 3mm high -- result - way too much)

w83697hf-isa-0290 temp2: +62.5°C (high = +120°C, hyst = +115°C) sensor = transistor

Test #2 (minimal amount of grease brushed on with Q-tip, very thin layer, much less than 1mm thick)

w83697hf-isa-0290 temp2: +51.0°C (high = +120°C, hyst = +115°C) sensor = transistor

Word to the wise, DON'T USE TOO MUCH GREASE!

The main key here is surface area. The greater percentage of the die surface covered in goo that actually touches the heatsink area, the better the heatsink will draw heat of the processor. I've always had the best success applying with my finger as little as possible that fully covers the die, and smoothing it as much as possible, though I do like Benji's idea of using a plastic bag or glove or something to avoid contaminating the goo with hand oils and such that probably decrease it's efficiency. It's like a bed of nails, it is actually quite easy to lay on a bed of many nails if you are careful, the total surface area of all the nail points actually becomes fairly significant. I want to see some guru lay on a bed of 4 nails, now that is mind over matter! --Jason -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

David C. Rankin wrote:

Listmates,

I thought I would pass on the results of a (non-official) scientific test concerning the huge difference in cpu temperature just a small difference in the amount of thermal grease can make. The results below are on an AMD thoroughbred 2400+ using Manhattan silver grease.

Test #1 (dab of grease on processor core with syringe, pencil eraser size, roughly 3mm high -- result - way too much)

w83697hf-isa-0290 temp2: +62.5°C (high = +120°C, hyst = +115°C) sensor = transistor

Test #2 (minimal amount of grease brushed on with Q-tip, very thin layer, much less than 1mm thick)

w83697hf-isa-0290 temp2: +51.0°C (high = +120°C, hyst = +115°C) sensor = transistor

Word to the wise, DON'T USE TOO MUCH GREASE!

Most greases are insulators (both thermal and electric), so yes, of course, the more grease, the more insulation there is between the CPU and the heat-sink. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org