On Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:32:40 -0500, Cessna 310 <jolene310@sbc.com>
wrote:

>Jethro wrote:
>> IIs Vaseline an acceptible substitute for thermal grease for a CPU?
>> A friend wants to know.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Jethro
>
>Vaseline is not the right heat-conducting material. It is not designed
>to conduct heat. So even if it does smooth under pressure, its film
>will break down with heat and it won't pass the CPU heat efficiently to
>the heat sink
>
>The use of expensive heat conducting material is pretty much as waste of
>money. Arctic Silver and such don't do much better than other material.
> There are substitutes that are designed to conduct heat, will form a
>thin film and not break down under heat.
>
>I've been using common wheel-bearing grease for some time very
>successfully. It requires spreading a thin layer of grease over the CPU
>and then applying the heat sink. Little twists of the heat sink will
>make sure the material is seated and a smooth thin layer will formed.
>This material conducts heat efficiently and does not break down in the
>heat of CPU operation. Its designed to conduct heat and maintain its
>thick viscosity under the high heat and stress of the wheel bearing.
>Its even possible to use the thin layer of grease on the CPU and then
>apply a heat sink with the pad still on it.
>
>The added bonus is that the heat sink is more easily removed than with a
>typical heat pad on most heat sinks. I've done that more than a couple
>of times.
>
>I'm using this on several overclocked Athlon 64 X2s and single core Ath
>64s. None of these machines get temps above 115F even operating at full
>load. Idle near room temp w/ Cool 'n Quiet.


Thanks for the many responses. I have passed them all along to my
friend to do with as he will. Personally I have always used the stuff
sold especially for his, but maybe next time I might try wheel bearing
grease. I always have some of that around.

Jethro