Thermal Paste and the HDT-S1283

Okay I was going to use MX-2 as the thermal paste on my new HDT-S1283 but Scan don't have it in stock and I'm paying for delivery to get it from somewhere else (I ordered other items at the same time but I really want to get started on the build before my 28 days DOA expires).

So the HDT-S1283 comes with some thermal paste is this any good? Or is there a great paste that Scan sell (and is in stock) that you'd recommended that I could swap for? This is on a Yorkfield Quad if that makes any difference.

I am going to be using the bolt thru kit so it's not an option to use the Xigmatek stuff and then apply the MX-2 later as I'm not going to take the motherboard out of the case to do it.

I didn't use the stuff in with the heatsink, I used another Xigmatek Thermal Grease. It was about two quid from scan and my temps are seriously enviable :) 28 degrees with my fans on low, 25 medium, haven't even tried them on high ;)

The paste that comes with the cooler will be fine (RichieUK - if you had tried it, your temps might have been lower still! :) )

You serious? Is it better stuff than the one I bought or something? Either way though I couldn't see it being too bad though, thermal grease is thermal grease, no amount of debating will change the fact that it works. It may be a degree or two better or worse, but as long as its not mayonaise, it should be fine.

With my HD-S1283 I used Artic Silver 5 (http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=403502) that I have lying around for years and it works well. The Artic Silver site also has a guide for applying it to quad cores (http://www.arcticsilver.com/ins_rout...2intelas5.html).

The Zalman stuff is quite good as well and very simple to use, it comes in a bottle with a brush and you paint it on like nail varnish. :)

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Originally Posted by richieuk

You serious? Is it better stuff than the one I bought or something? Either way though I couldn't see it being too bad though, thermal grease is thermal grease, no amount of debating will change the fact that it works. It may be a degree or two better or worse, but as long as its not mayonaise, it should be fine.

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I don't know - the only way to test iot would be to try both! The point is that although the stuff you used works well, that doesn't mean that the supplied stuff wouldn't work equally well!

God i'm such an idiot. I bought some MX-2 last year when I helped my brother with his upgrade, I just found it as he has just had to replace a failed Graphics Card and there is loads left :embarrassed:.

I've bought some arctic silver 5 for mine. Has anyone found a good method for applying it to the S1283?

Should it go in a line across the three heat pipes or a small line on each heat pipe?

Or what i did, cover all over with paste, a thin layer on the HS by scraping it on with a bit of plastic at a sligth angle giving plenty of pressure, then when you take plastic off it leaves a notch so just fill this in by using a plastic bag thing for screws over your finger to smudge the last bits.

I followed these instructions for my Xigmatek 1283:

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...1&limitstart=5

Hopefully that link works, if not, google "benchmark thermal paste application" and its the first hit. The main problem with the heat pipes is that they leave gaps at the base of the sink, which need to be filled with paste for proper efficiency. As the review demonstrates, the 'line' of paste method on its own may not spread properly when the HS is attached. The line method is recommended by Arctic Silver manufacturer, where the line runs down the middle of the two cores, which are the hottest parts.

Anyway thats the way I did it, took ages over carefully applying it then couldnt get the thing to stay on with the push pins, so probably undid all my hardwork :confused: