Hey thanks for all your help guys. The friend who put my mobo/cpu/heatsink/fan together is a great guy, but a careless bastard when it comes to things like this. What you say sounds just like him! I am a bit hesitant to start taking the cpu out as I'm sure you need proper super-clean anti-static gloves and all, and as it does work ok with the fan up... I'll just be damn careful when I next upgrade.
Cheers for everything.
Anton
Volker Kuhlmann wrote:
The original AMD heatsink is basically a use-once device.
That's what AMD says. These days they come as heatsink/fan unit, with a special "paste" which melts itself into place once installed and powered-up the first time.
I was forced to take it off again to remove the CPU from the mobo which had to be replaced (CPU can't be removed with the heatsink on). I carefully pushed sufficient stuff from the edges back into the area where the CPU heat pad was going to be, spreading it evenly and making sure there's no dust/grit in there (with dust or grit trapped you're history). First thing I did after powerup was to compare the CPU temp in the BIOS - same as before, even after some while, so I concluded the operation was successful. Obviously it helps to know precisely what the temp should be before taking the whole thing apart.
As this is against AMD's instructions (which say do not reuse thermal compund) it has probably voided the warranty on the CPU.
If anyone finds out where the AMD heat stuff can be purchased from I'd like to know too. It's not the same as the white stuff which comes in tubes from the electronics supplier. AMD's is a kind of sticker, appr 1mm thick, already on the heat sink with a cover film on it which is pulled off before installation. Probably sold in the style of an adhesive label.
Volker
Oh btw it's not OT.
