Replacement thermal pads

[Mercutio]

Anyone know where to get thermal pads to replace those found on retail HSFs? AMD's site makes some mention of them. I've never seen one. Are they out there?

 

[Handruin]

I found two places selling an antec branded version...don't know if this helps:

http://www.provantage.com/scripts/go.dll/-s/fp_63816

http://www.neutronexpress.com/prod.cfm/148755/ANTEC/THERMAL_PADS/HEATSINK_CPU_FANS

 

[Groltz]

Thermal pads are a poor substitute for quality thermal grease. They don't have nearly the heat transfer ability.

A large syringe of Arctic Silver 3 is enough to do dozens of CPU's and you could be reassured that you are getting the best possible heat transfer from CPU-to-heatsink. AS3 is also very easy to apply and clean-up.

That being said, if I absolutely had to use a thermal pad on something I would use the ones that Gary sells.

Unfortunately he seems to be out of stock at the moment.

 

[Handruin]

Thermal pads are a poor substitute for quality thermal grease. They don't have nearly the heat transfer ability.

A large syringe of Arctic Silver 3 is enough to do dozens of CPU's and you could be reassured that you are getting the best possible heat transfer from CPU-to-heatsink. AS3 is also very easy to apply and clean-up.

That being said, if I absolutely had to use a thermal pad on something I would use the ones that Gary sells.

Unfortunately he seems to be out of stock at the moment.

This is true, but I remember reading something (maybe it was here) that thermal pads do have a place in the field. Field being high availablity servers. I remember reading that thermal grease can get hard and brittle over long periods of time making it less effective. Where as a thermal pad does not have this problem and is generally used in high availability servers.

 

[Mercutio]

I have a tendency to lose tubes of artic silver after a few weeks. I don't know where they go. That's why they're lost. It gets expensive after awhile.
It's exceptionally annoying since I do almost all my techwork in one room and I have all my tools in one place, and I have a dedicated toolbag for onsite work. Maybe my cats play with them or something.

If pads are cheap and somewhat effective, it might be a worthwhile alternative for me.

 

[time]

Groltz, that's just complete and utter BS. Phase change thermal pads are at least as good as any paste. AMD strongly recommends them, for a variety of reasons.


Mercutio: http://www.dansdata.com/powerdev.htm

 

[Buck]

Let's see your cats play with those sticky pads!

 

[CityK]

Merc, I believe I saw some at Best Buy too (I happened to catch a glimpse of what I thought were some thermal pads while doing some hurried last minute shopping this past Christmas - it stuck in my mind cause, at the time, I thought it odd that they would actually be stocking such an item. Upon reflection, however, I guess it makes sense that they would sell them)....but given that it was BB, they're probably costly and not of the best quality.

CK

 

[blakerwry]

Groltz, that's just complete and utter BS. Phase change thermal pads are at least as good as any paste. AMD strongly recommends them, for a variety of reasons.


Mercutio: http://www.dansdata.com/powerdev.htm

I dont think it's BS.

1) The two times I tried a heatsink with a pad and then switched to a grease using the same HSF my temps have gone down several degrees

2) I have found that regular white thermal grease on 10 year old computers has not gotten hard, brittle, or anything else that would affect its performance.


I have read AMD's official stance... Grease for testing and pads for everything else.... but for me, I'm using pads.

 

[blakerwry]

lol, im a doof... I meant I'm not using pads. I prefer grease