Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

[socalcaz]

I am planning on purchasing the Thermalright XP-90. Would someone be so kind to outline the process of changing heat sinks? I want to make sure I order everthing I need.

Some questions:
Do I need to clean off the old paste and do I need to order special remover?

What is good paste to use with the new heat sink?

How do you attach the fan to this particular heat sink?

[bisley]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

This might help

http://www.heatsink-guide.com/content.php?content=faq.shtml

[socalcaz]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

How does this look for materials:

Heatsink

Fan

Paste

[socalcaz]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

This might help
http://www.heatsink-guide.com/conten...tent=faq.shtml

Actually not very helpful. Anyone have experience with the above fan? How do I clean off the old paste? Thanks!

[rahb0sse]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

Alcohol on a cotton swab.

[toxik]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

The heatsink, fan, and paste all look good. Use rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab/q-tip to remove old paste. Apply AS5, but don't use your finger to spread it out. Your skin has a lot of bacteria and such that'll mess with AS5's formula. Use like a plastic glove or a pad. Don't put too much either.

[signa]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

Do I need to clean off the old paste and do I need to order special remover?

Definately!!. you can use rubbing alcohol and a q-tip (I did). reports say arctic silver's cleaning solution (with citric acid) is the best.

What is good paste to use with the new heat sink?

Arctic silver 5.

How do you attach the fan to this particular heat sink?

The sink comes with little wire arms that sort hold the fan on like a spring clip. it works good.

...but don't use your finger to spread it out. Your skin has a lot of bacteria and such that'll mess with AS5's formula. Use like a plastic glove or a pad

not to mention AS5 is 99.9% silver which is a toxic substance.

remember when using thermal paste, you want a very thin layer. just enough to fill in surface irregularities on the cpu and sink. Put a couple small dots of AS5 on then use a razorblade to smooth / stretch / and even it out. the directions say to put a thin layer on both the cpu and the sink.
Also check out the thermalright website for instructions. your using an AMD rig, so you may have to swap out the cpu's heatsink bracket on your mobo. a AMD bracket comes with the xp90 incase you need it.
the xp90 has spring loaded arms that hold it securely to the mobo, and it may take a bit of force to clip them on. I killed a mobo once installing one, Im still not sure what happened even though I was really careful (was it the install pressure, or maybe some old paste that fell on some component?!?)
you may want to not take any chances and remove the mobo before doing the install. you will definately have to remove it if you need to swap out your mobo bracket.

If I remember maybe i can post a pic of my install.

[NoSoup4You]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

When you order it be sure to get the following:

Arti-Clean (solution for cleaning the CPU and heatsink, removes old paste particles forming a better bond).

ArticSilver 5 Silver Compound.

Other then that pretty easy. Don't wear socks (ruber soled shoes or nothing works), work on a concrete or hardwood floor with a wood table. When you pop open the case unscrew the current heatsink and pull it strait up. Place it on some newspaper or something so as not to get the silver compound all over. Next un-lock the CPU (usually a little leaver around the socket). Then take the CPU out. Only handle the sides (and don't go in there after playing 2 hours of BF2 because it will probably be quite warm). Try to avoid handling it on the pins whenever possible. You may want to pick up an elctro-static free bag (usually local computer shops will give them to you for nothing) to place the CPU on when cleaning it with the ArtiClean. After you have cleaned the CPU, double check the new heatsink. Some come with pre-fabbed grease squares. Whipe it off and clean it with the ArtiClean as the squares are trash.

Reinstall the CPU and lock it down again.

Next with the ArticSilver 5 put a "wild rice grain" sized dab onto the CPU. Take the heatsink and push it strait down onto the CPU. Give it a quater twist in each direction but DO NOT pull it back up (if you do, you have to start all over again). Then screw the new HSF unit down.

Maximum cooling will be reached after 100 hours of use (or there abouts).

[Shamus]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

Just clean the old past with alcohol and then wipe it dry with a lint free cloth. Apply the AS thermal compound thinly with a razor blade edge and the CPU actually goes on ealily on my AMD based motherbord. Swapping out the retention bracket was easy. In fact, the whole process for me installing the XP-90 was much easier than the instructions sound.

BTW, besides that fan being ugly, it sure has great air pressure for such a quiet fan.

One more thing. You just don't need a fast and loud fan for this HSF setup. I can crank up my fan or lower it and it makes only a 1*C difference even while gaming. This is due to the performance of the Heat Pipe design.

[NoSoup4You]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

I do that sometimes too Shamus (and it does work) but they have done studies that show that using ArtiClean is much better. Apparently our method still leaves thermal compound in the pores and valleys (microscopic of course) of the CPU and HSF. This then esentially becomes a blockade for the new compound to form a good bond between the two.

My next swap will include ArtiClean for that purpose.

[socalcaz]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

This is great guys, thanks alot!

Does anyone know if I will have problems fitting this heatsink in my Centurion 5 case and/or Epox motherboard?

[toxik]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

I doubt a case would have any issues with a heatsink. As far as your mobo, the XP-90 fits all current 939 mobos.

[Shamus]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

I do that sometimes too Shamus (and it does work) but they have done studies that show that using ArtiClean is much better. Apparently our method still leaves thermal compound in the pores and valleys (microscopic of course) of the CPU and HSF. This then esentially becomes a blockade for the new compound to form a good bond between the two.

My next swap will include ArtiClean for that purpose.

I have always been concerned about the residual left over after using alcohol especially when moving to a different type of thermal compound - like from ceramic to (AS) Arctic Silver. So you make an excellent point. One thing I have always done (after cleaning) is to coat each surface with AS using my finger inside a plastic bag, being sure to really rub in the compound. I will then wipe it off with a lint free cloth and apply the AS as normal.

[djstubbs]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

1. Remove old thermal paste with rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs.

2. Apply new thermal paste, about the size of a grain of rice in the middle of the processor.

3. Place heatsink over the processor in the correct mountable position.

4. Remove heatsink and make sure the thermal paste distributed evenly.

5. Replace heatsink, lock into place.

That's it.

[socalcaz]

Re: Help with changing stock heatsink to XP-90.

Thanks guys for the help my heat sink and fans are in the mail. Rock on!