I read this in a article about building your own computer. Do you agree with this statement?
Tip: It would be wise to use some thermal compound between the CPU and the fan, as it helps keep the temperature down. It’s pretty simple, just follow the directions on the back of the package. It’s not technically required, however.[/u] The last sentence is the one I am asking about.
It depends on the question!
Some CPUs require no heatsink at all ..... the Raspberry Pi is an example.
There are motherboards available with CPU and heatsink fitted and no fan is required.
If all is needed is to turn on the CPU and have it run then technically the compound is not required ...... but then technically the thermal compound does NOT go between the fan and the CPU either.
It goes between the
Heatsink and the CPU, where a heatsink (with or without fan) is required.
Regarding using a heatsink without any thermal compound between it and the CPU ...... the results are not optimal. Heat transfer is inefficient.
Microscopically each of the two surfaces are pitted. Laying them together results in lots of gaps and inefficient thermal transfer.
By using a
very thin film of thermal compound between the two, more surface area is available for thermal conductivity, and much better thermal efficiency occurs.
For self builds you should
always use thermal compound between the CPU and heatsink, whether using a fan or not. There are several different set ups, but remember the existence of the heatsink is to take away heat from the CPU in the
most efficient manner possible.
Furthermore, for best results you should dismantle those parts, clean them thoroughly and apply a new
very thin film of thermal compound every year.
Thermal compound can harden over time and become much less efficient at transferring the heat from the CPU. Regular maintenance can help prevent that.
Just thinking about. I did one build from used parts. It had the cpu and fan already attached to the m/b. I think the person who had it messed up the bios. If I turn off the computer and leave it off for a while it will not boot. If I take the bios battery out and put it back in or replace it it will boot to bios setup screen. My thinking is that clears the bios. I get around that by leaving the computer on all the time.
Have you replaced the BIOS battery with a known good battery?
Does the BIOS still lose its settings when the PC is left off for a time?
If so, maybe the battery is not making proper connection in its holder. Often the connections of the holder can become corroded and they fail to make proper electrical connections. It might be worth examining them closely and even giving the contacts a rub to ensure they are clean.
Of course if the motherboard has been mishandled then the connections could be strained and not making connection to the battery.
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