I'm just posting this for opinions as the question is, is thermal grease something that is needed as this is often asked.

I had to have a AMD CPU replaced, I was sent a boxed AMD XP 1800+ CPU which included a heatsink/fan but it did not contain any thermal grease. What I was sent was something you would purchase in a store and again, it did not contain a package of thermal grease.

I myself say it is not needed and the use of it is over rated for normal everyday use. If you are overclocking this does not apply to you.

So if AMD does not package thermal grease into their retail packages why should one use it? If AMD thought it was needed one would think they would place it in their package.

Again, I'm just looking for opinions on this. This was a boxed AMD CPU that has a 3yr warranty, you would think that if thermal grease was that important AMD would stick some in the box.

KTTD

I have a friend at school who also has an XP 1800+, with the OEM heatsink and fan, it idles at 56C with no thermal compound. 56C is tolerable, but in my opinion, I prefer to have the chip run cooler, and personally believe that having thermal compund will help it drop a few degrees. Also, it's probably true that it is not needed for slower CPUs, like a Celeron. But for the newer, like XP 2200+ and beyond and P4 2GHz or +, I think thermal compund is a must to ensure longetivity.

P.S. My retail 3.06GHz P4 also did not include thermal compund, but my mobo and heatsink did :0)

Did the HSF have a thermal pad?

AMD think that thermal grease or thermal pad is important. Boxed AMDs have a thermal pad attached to the heatsink included. If you replace this heatsink you should also replace a thermal pad or use some kind of thermal grease and believe me it is important!!!

Ignore the Thermal Pad for a moment and yes, it does have a thermal pad. Any good heatsink/fan comes with a thermal pad these days but but most feel this is not enough and still apply thermal grease which I still feel is over rated for the avg. user and is not needed.

KTTD

I think that the reason for the thermal pad is two-fold. One is to help the CPU dissipate heat. The other, especially with Athlon and Athlon XPs, is to protect the CPU core from chipping.

Thermal paste is better than the pad for heat transfer but provides almost no protection to the CPU core.

The difference that thermal paste makes is backed up with the difference in temps in two of my systems.

System one is a 1400 MHz Athlon that runs at 66ºC full load -- this has the stock heatsink and fan on with no thermal paste. CPU fan runs at 4500 RPM.

System two is a 1.73 MHz Athlon XP2100+ Throughbred B that runs at 34ºC full load -- this has a volcano 7+ heatsink and a thin layer of thermal paste spread over the core. CPU fan on lowest speed - 3000 RPM.

Some people will argue that the throughbred core runs much cooler than the Athlon thunderbird but the motherboard temps are very similar (29 and 30ºC) and there is a huge difference in full load temperatures here. Wonder which CPU will last longer???

my xp2000+ with standard AMD approved heat sink/fan, no thermal grease (just a thermal pad) runs at 40ºC full load. Idles at 35ºC with a board temp of 32ºC pretty much all the time.

it all comes down to personal preference, if someone wants to spend $5 on thermal compund, they will, if not, they won't, that's why it's a free country

If you are careful about the CPU core, I think that thermal paste is far better than the thermal pad for keeping your CPU cooler.

Moreover, the cpu READING may be tolerable, but the thermal grease offers a more even heat distribution/transfer. wihthout it, that 56 degree reading may be 70+ in a hotspot, and thus damage the cpu or reduce its lifespan. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, not spending $5-$7 for some arctic silver is just plain dumb. Especially when you spent $5 on that case badge. AMD Killer! Yup, you will be.

Ok, Dr. Octopus post/states this.

"and thus damage the cpu or reduce its lifespan."

Well lets consider this. The CPU you get today is hip and the latest and greatest. Now in 6 months or 1 year that same CPU is slow and old.

If you don't see my point then don't reply.

KTTD

Lets make this quick, If you're worried about the cpu warranty, then just use the included oem heatsink and thermal pad. Cause, If you don't use what is supplied, period, no warranty. And you must now return the fan with the cpu, serial number on fan matches numbers on cpu. If you want the must for and of your processors then use thermal grease, lower temps.= longer life. Heat has always been a problem to electronics, if not to the cpu, then most certainly to all around and under it. AND IN CASE ANYONE WAS WONDER I had a problem with the installation of a new Tt Volcano 9 ( was replacing a V7+, noise reasons) and the heatsink was touching the cpu fan connector possibly causing uneven pressure and high core temps. on a ECS L7VTA mobo. 82c first boot directly into bios, and 81c the second time I remounted and booted to bios. Now, I'm back to 47c with V7+ and running 24/7 for 2 days now. So, AMD can withstand some heat, DO YOU WANT TO TRUST THE PAD? It is a matter of preferance; You decide!