Hi, This is my first time installing a cpu and would like your advice. Im going to install a Socket A AMD duron 1.3ghz tomorrow, i have the cpu and cooler ready i just need to go out and buy some arctic silver 3 thermal compound. I have a question, how am i supposed to apply the AS3 without damaging the cpu, and am i supposed to spread it all over the core and the pads on it (the whole surface of the cpu)? Also is there any specific things I need to know before I do this? Regards

I forgot to add, can I overclock the cpu to 1.4ghz safely without adding extra stuff?

what heatsink do you have?? if it is the stock one which came in the retail boxed cpu you dont need to use thermal paste. also, what motherboard do you have?

Yes, you probably should put some arctic silver in there if there is no thermal pad on the heatsink or anything and you only need to put paste on the core, not the 4 pads. As far as overclocking, Durons run fairly cool with even the stock heatsink but many people have not had very good luck with their 1.3's in overclocking...sometimes only a ~50mhz gain. Thats my two cents. Good Luck

well the ac3 is only put on the little square chip in the very center of your cpu, if you buy the right heat sink it will come with a thermal pad already on it, usually any labeled sockey A will have it, however if they don't then you need to apply just enough to bridge the gap between the heatsink and cpu, there is also some video's by amd that will show how to do most of that stuff, hope this helps