Calling out you processor guys...

[Zimba]

Alright guys ive come to you for advice, this may be a dangerous request but im willing to risk the consequences. I have *2* concerns, one asking for an opinion on an upgrade and the other concerning thermal paste and installation.

1.) This is my setup...
Asus M2N-E
2gb DDR2 800 OCZ
AM2 X2 4200+
EVGA 7900GT
250GB WD

Due to the recent price drops the x2 6000+ has been making a tent in my pants, it is currently on sale for $250 on ncix including 2 free games, rainbow six vegas and rome. Would it be worth my while putting money into this upgrade for better overall performance and frame rate?

2.) I had taken off my heatsink to get a feel of the installation if i were to in fact buy this new processor. I noticed after taking the heatsink off that there was a glue like substance on top of the processor (Thermal Paste). After further research i was told i shouldnt turn my computer back on until i replace the thermal paste, is this true? If so can someone go into detail as to what id have to do or possibly a dial up friendly link?

Thanks in advance guys, alot of people on here seem to know their shit when it comes to computers but i kind of lack in the hands on processor department.

[gOOCH]

lol just stick it back on and turn it, and check temps in bios, if they arent extremely high then ur fine

[ORION]

AMD O.o?

as for thermal paste, you may be able to reuse a little bit of the shit you have, but you should replace, the brand wont make more then a 1 degree difference, but, it is possible to sand your heatsink and CPU so that they sit almost perfectly, and not use thermal paste, but you have to be willing to apply sand paper to you CPU :/

[SKULLCRUSHER]

take a razor blade and scrape the old shit off the two services, clean with rubbing alcohol, apply new thermal paste.. use credit card or similar to apply a consistent paper thin layer. Jam the sucker back together and viola...

[Cleavage Monkey]

This is why I let the professionals build my computers

[RANDOM H3RO]

Well, possibly a cheaper way....


Take your computer covers off, grab yourself a playboy.
Give it a good long pull and hose-r-down.

Replace panels and you're done.

:)

Best bet would be buy replacement goo and follow those steps above.

[gOOCH]

if you do get a replacement, stay away from the liquid metal stuff

[Knight Templar]

Try following the instructions in this link which Wes posted a little earlier.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106563

[SKULLCRUSHER]

Or pretty much like I said above, only with a hundred more words.

[Zimba]

alright thanks guys, okay gooch once i got er setup again ill just watch the temps...i was just confused as to why people would tell me to replace the paste even though it doesnt stick to the heatsink? because it came off incredibly easy

[ORION]

Thermal paste is supposed to be more thermally conductive then air, which is why you put a paper thin layer between your mating metal surfaces, to squeeze out very small pockets of air, now, if you can lap your heatsink and CPU up over 800 grit, you can usually do without the stuff because there are so few pockets between the surfaces.