Is Heatsink Pressure Required?

[YedZed]

Does there need to be pressure between the cooler and the CPU for the cooler to work well, assuming the thermal paste is spread evenly? For example, can I put a cooler for a different socket on a CPu and not fasten it, and have it work well with the bridge of the thermal paste?

[AlwaysFSX]

Please try that and find out.

 

Seriously.

[ARikozuM]

Ideally, you want the TIM to be thin enough to allow the fastest diffusion of heat while thick enough that it covers the most area and doesn't leave air-pockets.

 

That said, just a bit of pressure.

[Himommies]

Just now, AlwaysFSX said:

Please try that and find out.

 

Seriously.

What he means is that you'll burn and kill the CPU

[AlwaysFSX]

Just now, Himommies said:

What he means is that you'll burn and kill the CPU

Nooooo, I would never wish that upon someone.

[Himommies]

Just now, AlwaysFSX said:

Nooooo, I would never wish that upon someone.

Unless they bought a FX within the past 4 months

[YedZed]

Just now, AlwaysFSX said:

Nooooo, I would never wish that upon someone.

lol, can't be worse than plastidipping the whole heatsink tho right?  

I know that in a practical sense this strategy would suck considering most mobos are vertically oriented, but I was wondering.

[Aytex]

Just now, Himommies said:

What he means is that you'll burn and kill the CPU

I doubt it will burn and kil the CPU, If you have enough Contact between the paste and IHS, and Heatsink

 

It wouldn'''t be as effective but it prob might work. /shrug

[YedZed]

Just now, Aytex said:

I doubt it will burn and kil the CPU, If you have enough Contact between the paste and IHS, and Heatsink

 

It wouldn'''t be as effective but it prob might work. /shrug

Maybe I'll try it.

[Himommies]

Just now, Aytex said:

I doubt it will burn and kil the CPU, If you have enough Contact between the paste and IHS, and Heatsink

 

It wouldn'''t be as effective but it prob might work. /shrug

It will probably not work on a vertical system there's a much larger chance on a horizontal one

[Aytex]

Just now, Himommies said:

It will probably not work on a vertical system there's a much larger chance on a horizontal one

Just flip the case mang  

[YedZed]

Just now, Himommies said:

It will probably not work on a vertical system there's a much larger chance on a horizontal one

Right

[YedZed]

Just now, Himommies said:

It will probably not work on a vertical system there's a much larger chance on a horizontal one

Yeah, the cooler would just-

fall.

[AlwaysFSX]

3 minutes ago, YedZed said:

lol, can't be worse than plastidipping the whole heatsink tho right?  

I know that in a practical sense this strategy would suck considering most mobos are vertically oriented, but I was wondering.

You have a question and the ability to test it yourself. Test it.

[Himommies]

1 minute ago, Aytex said:

Just flip the case mang  

But but. Actually I can't think of any downsides of that huh

[YedZed]

Just now, AlwaysFSX said:

You have a question and the ability to test it yourself. Test it.

I shall. Wish me luck!

[Aytex]

Just now, YedZed said:

I shall. Wish me luck!

Haha, gl

[AlwaysFSX]

Just now, YedZed said:

I shall. Wish me luck!

Tip, if your motherboard is vertical, you should put your case sideways so it lays flat and then all you need to do is unbolt your heatsink.

[YedZed]

Just now, AlwaysFSX said:

Tip, if your motherboard is vertical, you should put your case sideways so it lays flat and then all you need to do is unbolt your heatsink.

well ideally I'd really everything for good measure and a fresh start

[Enderman]

It will just give higher temps.

If you use a thin thermal paste like MX-4 you can just push the cooler down a lot and it will sort of stick there due to suction.

You just can't move the PC at all or put it vertical.

[ARikozuM]

27 minutes ago, Aytex said:

Just flip the case mang  

Flipping would still be vertical, though...

Spoiler

I know what you meant, though.

@Aytex has invented the sport of case-tipping.

[WoodenMarker]

On 7/2/2017 at 6:56 PM, ARikozuM said:

That said, just a bit of pressure.

It depends on the heatsink in question. Surfaces aren't perfectly flat and the bottom of heatsinks are often curved to compensate for the uneven surface with pressure. 

With these types of coolers, more pressure is required for proper contact. 

[YedZed]

6 hours ago, WoodenMarker said:

It depends on the heatsink in question. Surfaces aren't perfectly flat and the bottom of heatsinks are often curved to compensate for the uneven surface with pressure. 

With these types of coolers, more pressure is required for proper contact. 

Oh that reminds me of the LTT video on that...

[JacobFW]

The pressure does two things

1) Things out the tim so that it is as thin as possible, which since the tim has a lower heat transfer coefficient increases the thermal conductivity

2)  Most importantly, it thins out the tim so that there is as much metal to metal contact between the ihs and the cooler surface as possible.  Solid metals have a heat conductivity around 10 timers higher than solder, and 100 times higher than tim.  

 

That being said, I have tested new hardware that I don't have a proper heatsink for by taking apart a stock intel heatsink and just putting some thermal paste on it and setting it on top of the cpu.  Temperatures were in the 50's, but I was able to get into the BIOS and play around. 

[fastcar123]

i have actually done this. You can get to windows but don't expect to do literally anything.