is it important to put heat transfer compound on top of the processor?
i cleaned it off not knowing what it was a while ago when i took it apart to clean it
ive been given a tube to put some more on but is it important?

 

I've always been told to use it when putting a fan on the processor

 

Your defo meant to use it and i always do . But i doubt ur notice anything by not using it unless your are overclocking the cpu and really pushing it hard.

 

ive put some on it now anyway as the fan was always kicking in and the pc is generally getting quite noisy

 

I wouldn't run a system with out thermal paste, your machine may run without it but I wouldn't personally.

I recommend http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Compo...productId=7774

My system dropped 20 degrees celcius under full load using it compaired to

the standard stuff that came on my heatsink and fan.

It's only Ł4 and well worth it and should do about 100 cpu's

 

YES YES YES & YES!!!! you will fry most processors without it!

 

ive never installed a processor myself but i visit 2 pc forums pretty often and there always saying use thermal paste etc, and after you red up about it, then it all becomes clear, plus for a few quid and a few seconds spreading the paste its not worth leaving it out and then frying something

 

None of my 3 previous CPU's had thermal paste on them and i never had any problems, it's not a requirement unless you plan on overclocking it or putting it under heavy load all the time, in which case buy a bigger fan to compensate as well.

 

If you want your CPU to run more effeciantly and last longer use thermal paste !, if you don't you could risk damaging your CPU, specially if its an AMD chip as they run hotter then Intel chips.

 

dont fully agree with you there.

the AMD sempron chip's run cooler than normal chips!

 

yea i think it is quite important. when i was usin my PC the processor fan used to run really loud. so i took that off and replaced it with a better fan and they told me you HAVE to use it.