Hello all, Why is my new CPU Fan/heatsink allowing my processor to run hotter? Would having too much paste be the reason why I couldn't get this heat sink locked into place easier and its running hotter? ...or.... Is it possible that I don't have a 939 socket MB with my Athlon 64 dual processor? read on for details.... When my CPU fan started that familiar worn ball bearing yelp, I ordered another from pricewatch. Then I put it aside until my bios told me (upon boot) that the fan spead was too low, then I replaced the old fan/heat sink with the new fan/heat sink. Except I had a really tough time getting the metal tabs to fit over the hooks on the base (that holds the heat sink to the processor). I was actually afraid I was going to break the MB! When I finally (after about 15 minutes of repositioning and brute force and a lot of prayers) got the tabs to click over the little hooks, I couldn't even begin to push the locking lever down. I didn't remove the old paste on the CPU, it seemed like most of the old paste came off with the old heat sink. So the heat sink is just held in place by the tabs and hooks, without the additional leverage of pushing the locking lever in. Which is fine (I think) because it it really, really tight! (I assure you it could not be tighter. If I forced the locking lever on the heat sink to engage, it would break.) However, ever since I did this my CPU is running 5-10 degrees (centigrade) higher that it used to. Every once in a while I even get the bios message on boot that my CPU speed is too low. And this is with the new fan/heatsink! I just turn it off and reboot. Has this happened to anybody else? Help me computing.net forums, you're my only hope...

You did it all wrong & you're risking damage to your CPU. The lever MUST be locked in place! You should have removed the CPU from the socket so that you could thoroughly remove all traces of the old thermal compound. The new HSF should have had a thermal pad pre-installed...if not, it probably had a small pack of thermal paste. And when applying paste, all you need to use is a VERY small amount, not much bigger than a grain of rice. Here are the instructions: http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/app...

Ok, that's no problem, what is the best way remove the paste? Can I just rub the back of the CPU with my finger and it will come off? Once I get it off, can I re-use the paste to spread it back on the heat sink (not more than a grain of rice...) So is fair for me to say that you think that there is too much paste and that is why I had so much trouble with the lever and getting the tabs hooked in? Jim

Jam, I just read the direction (the link that you posted) and it looks like I need paste that is not only the size of a grain of rice in thickness, but also in diameter! Am I reading that right? My heatsink came with a small square of paste and most of the paste came off the CPU and was still attached to the old heat sink. When I clean the CPU (with isopropyl alcohol) is it ok if I touch the underside of the chip? Jim

I have no idea how much paste you used, but you should not reuse it again. Also, you shouldn't touch the bottom of the heatsink or top of the CPU with your fingers because you'll contaminate it with dirt, fingerprints, etc. Use a solvent such as acetone, alcohol or lacquer thinner to remove the old paste & clean the surfaces. Wipe with a lint free cloth, then apply the paste. The heatsink itself should drop right in place over the CPU. And the metal clips should clip onto the lugs on the retention bracket fairly easily...that is, not too much force should be necessary to get both sides attached. The cam lever is another story though. It may take a good amount of force to get it to lock in place.

Make sure your heatsink is not getting hung up on a high capacitor or other part. It has to sit FLAT and completely on the cpu. The screw height and such is pretty standard so your having to use frorce to clamp it down leads me to believe you have an edge of the heatsink getting hung up on something. Place the heatsink down and have a CAREFUL look around the base of the fins.

OK, I am going to remove the CPU and heat sink, clean the paste off of both with isoprolyl alcohol and put a little bit of paste (the size of a grain of rice) on the center of the CPU, and put it all back together. That should solve it, right? Where can one buy the thermal paste? I don't want to order it, I don't want to wait until it comes in the mail. Does radio shack have this? What retail store might have this? Thanks, Jim