heat sink "breaking in" period?

jbraner · 01-02-2005, 04:35 PM

Hi,

Is it normal for a heatsink/CPU combination to start working better after the first few days?

I just upgraded my mobo & P4 to a Asus P4800-E deluxe with a P4 3.2 Prescott (a 89W one). I didn't realize the CPU was going to come with a heatsink so I ordered a Arctic Super Silent 4 Ultra with the CPU. I used the Arctic heatsink rather than the Intel one - but it didn't come with any instructions. It gave a url for the installation instructions - which was of little use to me with my PC in pieces, the mobo on the floor, heatsink in my hand etc ;-)

Anyway, it's not too hard to work out how to install it - but I've never used paste with a heatsink before. I've only used the "default" intel ones that come with a sticky thing already on it that bonds the heatsink to the CPU.

So I'm pretty sure I put a little too much paste on it, and I could smell it burning a little when I first fired up the PC. I was pretty sure it was only the paste - but I kept my eye on the CPU temp and it never went over 50 degrees. I thought 50 degrees might be a little high for this CPU, but definitely not dangerous. I kept a constant eye on the temp and it never went much over 50 even when I was using my "music making" PC normally.

After 3-4 days though, it now sits at 40 - 41 degrees when "idling" and goes up to maybe 45 degrees when being used fairly heavily.

This is obviously much better - but is this normal that it should "settle in" after a few days? The burning smell went away after the first hour or 2 - so I'm pretty sure it was just a little "extra" paste on the heatsink, and everything thing else is working great.

Any advice or info greatfully accepted.

thanks,
John Braner

Boomerang Rapido · 01-02-2005, 04:39 PM

Well I read somewhere that thermal paste such as Arctic Silver has a "break in" period of a couple days. I didn't experienced it myself but I have never really looked for it either.

zapionics<alt> · 01-02-2005, 04:55 PM

There is no burning smell associated with Arctic Silver.
Arctic silver does settle over a couple of days and temps will improve up to 4 or 5 degrees, but 9 seems pretty high to me.
I recommend that you investigate ASAP.
Also, can you post that link to the heat sink site?

3 of 7 · 01-02-2005, 08:05 PM

I believe the arctic silver site said 200 heat cycles to be fully effective......they also say to use a very small amount..(on a P4).....like 1 and 1/2 grain of rice if memory serves me....
arctic silver site

jbraner · 01-03-2005, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 of 7

like 1 and 1/2 grain of rice if memory serves me....
arctic silver site

I definitely put more than that on - but it seems fine now. I haven't used the PC for 200 hours yet, but it definitely seems to have "settled in".

Thanks for the replies. I guess I was just double checking that no one said "Oh no - don't do that.....!!!" ;-)

ScottFern · 01-13-2005, 05:14 PM

Just remember Prescotts run hot. Its not uncommon to idle at 39-43C and get max load temps of 50-58C.

*Bofinn* · 01-14-2005, 09:11 AM

don't leave the pc on for 200 hours:

200 hours and several thermal cycles...

jbraner · 01-14-2005, 04:23 PM

"don't leave the pc on for 200 hours:"

Why not? Everything seems fine. It's been fine for 2-3 weeks now and it "idles" around 40 degrees - and maybe goes up to the mid to high 40s when stressed.

I was doubting the way I installed the heatsink, but all seems fine....

*Fraoch* · 01-14-2005, 04:33 PM

What he meant was it needs to go through heat cycles, i.e. warming up and cooling down, so leaving it on for 200 hours straight doesn't necessarily accomplish this.

It sounds like things are working fine for you, so if it hasn't seen a significant number of heat cycles yet it may get even better.

billfuddled · 01-14-2005, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbraner

I definitely put more than that on - but it seems fine now. I haven't used the PC for 200 hours yet, but it definitely seems to have "settled in".

Thanks for the replies. I guess I was just double checking that no one said "Oh no - don't do that.....!!!" ;-)

You'll probably find that most of the excess AS5 migrated out toward the sides and ended up outside the edge of the CPU. The drop in temp may be this excess layer thinning out with pressure/time and the thermal interface improving as the layer thinned. BTW, congrats on the successful upgrade.

Tapir · 01-14-2005, 08:56 PM

Your temps are great. I still get 52 at idle and over 70 when with load. Even in ambient temp of 62 degrees. Still cannot make up my mind on replacing cpu or go with water cooling. I have a 2.8e pressie

Dan-Baer · 01-14-2005, 09:29 PM

The danger if you put too much on is that it will squeeze out and short out a circuit. Just clean up any that has squeezed out. Except for that as long as you have the heat sink and fan installed correctly and you have give it time to "equilibrate to nominal" everything should be fine.

jbraner · 01-15-2005, 07:13 AM

Thanks again for the new round of replies. I'm hoping that anything that was going to short out - would have done so by now. It sounds like I got away with putting on a "little too much" paste.

Tapir - the Arctic heatsink was cheap (< £10 GBP), and seems to do a great job. Maybe you should try this first?

Tapir · 01-15-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbraner

Thanks again for the new round of replies. I'm hoping that anything that was going to short out - would have done so by now. It sounds like I got away with putting on a "little too much" paste.

Tapir - the Arctic heatsink was cheap (< £10 GBP), and seems to do a great job. Maybe you should try this first?

When you need to import everything they are not all that cheap. You are automatically charged an "international fee" of no less than US$50.00. Got to wait till someone you know is coming down.
Just removed the heatsink again. Noticed that the paste (as5) is not evenly "smeared/spread" meaning the heat sink is not seating properly. Will pack up back the system until I can obtain a better heatsink. The best available here right now are only for 1.8GB cpu's.

jbraner · 01-16-2005, 06:29 AM

Tapir,

Sorry, I didn't realise that this is not a cheap option. Do you have any more paste? You just need to spread a little more on your CPU and try again. Can you get a tiny amount from a computer shop? (you don't need a whole tube -just a tiny amount). Only people like me - who don't know what they're doing - use more than this

01-02-2005, 04:35 PM	#1
jbraner Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 27	heat sink "breaking in" period? Hi, Is it normal for a heatsink/CPU combination to start working better after the first few days? I just upgraded my mobo & P4 to a Asus P4800-E deluxe with a P4 3.2 Prescott (a 89W one). I didn't realize the CPU was going to come with a heatsink so I ordered a Arctic Super Silent 4 Ultra with the CPU. I used the Arctic heatsink rather than the Intel one - but it didn't come with any instructions. It gave a url for the installation instructions - which was of little use to me with my PC in pieces, the mobo on the floor, heatsink in my hand etc ;-) Anyway, it's not too hard to work out how to install it - but I've never used paste with a heatsink before. I've only used the "default" intel ones that come with a sticky thing already on it that bonds the heatsink to the CPU. So I'm pretty sure I put a little too much paste on it, and I could smell it burning a little when I first fired up the PC. I was pretty sure it was only the paste - but I kept my eye on the CPU temp and it never went over 50 degrees. I thought 50 degrees might be a little high for this CPU, but definitely not dangerous. I kept a constant eye on the temp and it never went much over 50 even when I was using my "music making" PC normally. After 3-4 days though, it now sits at 40 - 41 degrees when "idling" and goes up to maybe 45 degrees when being used fairly heavily. This is obviously much better - but is this normal that it should "settle in" after a few days? The burning smell went away after the first hour or 2 - so I'm pretty sure it was just a little "extra" paste on the heatsink, and everything thing else is working great. Any advice or info greatfully accepted. thanks, John Braner
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01-02-2005, 04:39 PM	#2
Boomerang Rapido Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 516	Well I read somewhere that thermal paste such as Arctic Silver has a "break in" period of a couple days. I didn't experienced it myself but I have never really looked for it either.
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01-02-2005, 04:55 PM	#3
zapionics<alt> <unknown level> Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AUSTRALIA Posts: 2,936	There is no burning smell associated with Arctic Silver. Arctic silver does settle over a couple of days and temps will improve up to 4 or 5 degrees, but 9 seems pretty high to me. I recommend that you investigate ASAP. Also, can you post that link to the heat sink site? __________________ "To Boldly Go..."
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01-02-2005, 08:05 PM	#4
3 of 7 You can run..... Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,660	I believe the arctic silver site said 200 heat cycles to be fully effective......they also say to use a very small amount..(on a P4).....like 1 and 1/2 grain of rice if memory serves me.... arctic silver site __________________
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01-13-2005, 05:14 PM	#6
ScottFern Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 289	Just remember Prescotts run hot. Its not uncommon to idle at 39-43C and get max load temps of 50-58C. __________________ Mobo DFI LanParty NF4 Ultra-D \| CPU Athlon64 4800+ \| Memory Patriot 2GB \| Video Asus 7900GTX \| HD WD 74GB Raptor SATA \| HD Maxtor 200GB SATA \| DVD-RW BenQ DW1650 \| Monitor 2XDell 20" 2005FPW LCD \| Case Koolance Lian Li V1000 3dMark05:8353
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01-14-2005, 09:11 AM	#7
Bofinn I'm gettin' dizzy! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 11,035	don't leave the pc on for 200 hours: 200 hours and several thermal cycles... __________________ ---------- JimBo ----------- When in doubt, smack it!
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01-14-2005, 04:23 PM	#8
jbraner Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 27	"don't leave the pc on for 200 hours:" Why not? Everything seems fine. It's been fine for 2-3 weeks now and it "idles" around 40 degrees - and maybe goes up to the mid to high 40s when stressed. I was doubting the way I installed the heatsink, but all seems fine....
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01-14-2005, 04:33 PM	#9
Fraoch Resident ABX Wizard Join Date: May 2003 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 8,814	What he meant was it needs to go through heat cycles, i.e. warming up and cooling down, so leaving it on for 200 hours straight doesn't necessarily accomplish this. It sounds like things are working fine for you, so if it hasn't seen a significant number of heat cycles yet it may get even better.
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01-14-2005, 08:56 PM	#11
Tapir Wisdom Will Always Linger Join Date: May 2004 Location: Belize, The Jewel Posts: 3,004	Your temps are great. I still get 52 at idle and over 70 when with load. Even in ambient temp of 62 degrees. Still cannot make up my mind on replacing cpu or go with water cooling. I have a 2.8e pressie __________________ ***************************************************************************************** Knowledge: Either you have it or know where to get it! *************************************************************************************** You need to have the right question to get the right answer. *************************************************************************************** The greatest right any nation can afford its people is the right to be left alone. *************************************************************************************** BIOSTAR - P4M80-M4, P4-2.8E HT, MSI NX6200AX-TD256 DDR, 2X512 PC3200 MICRON DDR 400, HITACHI 80G & SAMSUNG 40G, LITEON 20XDVDR, MOTOROLA SB5100 CABLE MODEM, 56K V92 AGERE FAX MODEM, X TECH OPTICAL MOUSE, AIR COOLED - 5 FANS, UBUNTU HARDY HERON (8.04) *****************************************************************************************
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01-14-2005, 09:29 PM	#12
Dan-Baer Ancient Teckie Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: California Posts: 731	The danger if you put too much on is that it will squeeze out and short out a circuit. Just clean up any that has squeezed out. Except for that as long as you have the heat sink and fan installed correctly and you have give it time to "equilibrate to nominal" everything should be fine. __________________ New Rig; Asus Commando, QX6700 @ 2.93, 4 Gb Corsair (PC2-8500 Dominator), Zalman 7500, BFG 1 KW PSU, BFG 8800GTX OC, 2 Raptors in RAID 0 (OS and Apps) 2 Raptors in non raid for files and client data. WD 7500AAKS for main storage, X-Fi Fatal1ty, Normal optical drives Etc. 2 Ea Samsung 24" 244t's Thanks to everyone here for all the help
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01-15-2005, 07:13 AM	#13
jbraner Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 27	Thanks again for the new round of replies. I'm hoping that anything that was going to short out - would have done so by now. It sounds like I got away with putting on a "little too much" paste. Tapir - the Arctic heatsink was cheap (< £10 GBP), and seems to do a great job. Maybe you should try this first?
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01-16-2005, 06:29 AM	#15
jbraner Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 27	Tapir, Sorry, I didn't realise that this is not a cheap option. Do you have any more paste? You just need to spread a little more on your CPU and try again. Can you get a tiny amount from a computer shop? (you don't need a whole tube -just a tiny amount). Only people like me - who don't know what they're doing - use more than this
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