Thermal compounds - which is better?

[Guest_imported]

I understand the differences between the two products, but purely on the basis of heat conduction, which is better. Artic Silver 3 or Artic Alumina?


ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[Jakespeare]

A scientific list of some metals.

AL at top.
Silver at Bottom.
LARGER IS BETTER.

metals conductivity
aluminum 237
chromium 93.7
brass (273 K)
120
bronze (273 K)
110
copper 401
gold 317
iron 80.2
lead 35.3
mercury 8.34
nickel 90.7
platinum 71.6
plutonium 6.74
silver 429

> As you can clearly see.......... Silver is a MUCH better conductor.

** However, the key to keeping your CPU cool is in more than just compound:
> You need a GOOD FAN, with a LARGE heat sink for todays
CPUS - (the heat sink on my 2.0 GHz P4 is *HUGE*, like 1\2 a brick, and the fan would power a small plane)
> You need a good, well designed case, that has good airflow.
> You need extra case fans.

Anyway, you got your answer. It just dawned on me, you might be rebuilding a Pentium 133. Heh.

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks for the answer Jakespeare. The only problem I can forsee with using Artic Silver 3 would be the electrical/capacitive effects when used with a copper gasket on top of an AMD 1900. The upper substrate surface of this proc appears to have quite a few small gold coloured contact points which I would guess may not take kindly to an electrical path of some sort. The gasket is cut so as to avoid contact with these points, but it's conceivable that some of the thermal compound might inadvertantly fall onto them.


ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[Guest_imported]

Oh BTW, gave up on the 133 - couldn't keep it cool enough!!


ROGER - GØAOZ.