1st time heatsink install need advice!

[tmskilz]

Hi folks, am new to placing a heatsink onto a CPU.

Others I've built had the heatsink already installed onto the CPU.

I am building a PC (budget) for a buddy, I ordered an Intel Celeron 2 GHZ (400mhz FSB) it came with a heatsink.

My question is this, do I have to place thermal paste onto the CPU before installing heatsink or can I place the heat sink on the CPU without using thermal paste?

I don't have any paste to use, so was curious if it's safe & able to place a heatsink unto a cpu without the use of paste.

Responses greatly appreciated in advance.

[0iD]

Never ever ever ever put the heatsink on wthout a thermal pad or paste. Toying with disaster

Does the heatsink have a thermal pad on the bottom? If not thermal paste is as cheap as chips from your local PC world.

[Stigggeh]

if its a intel retail Heatsink it will have a black metal looking pad, all you need to do is peel off the plastic protective cover

if you are using paste you will need to clean the black stuff off and remember dont put too much paste on it, a tiny blob in the middle is usually enough

[tmskilz]

0iD & Stigg thanks for responding to my thread.

The heat sink came in the same retail box as the Intel Celeron chip. It didn't have a plastic covering @ the bottom, but it did have what seem to be a black pad, but it's more of a black thin paste, that seems to easily come off just by touching it, so I left it alone & placed the heatsink onto the CPU.

I'm hoping & guessing it was a paste already applied to the bottom of the heatsink?

Thanks again.

[0iD]

Tis so If you experience high temps, just remove the heatsink,give the base & the chip a carefl clean & apply some thermal paste.

Anyhoo, top chap, will have u modding & overclocking in no time

[tmskilz]

Tis so If you experience high temps, just remove the heatsink,give the base & the chip a carefl clean & apply some thermal paste.

Anyhoo, top chap, will have u modding & overclocking in no time

LOL, really? OiD, thanks for the help.
I'm a conservative so I doubt I'll be overclocking anytime soon, but I'm definitely open to new things.

PC been running fine since installing heatsink.

See you guys around.