What In Gods Name Is The Hole in The Heatspreader For?!

[nsarpolis]

Hello, I just purchased my first ever intel processor. (My hand-me-down P100 doesnt count) I have had a Duron and two athlons, and have used amd all of my life. Now, about this heatspreader on my 2.4C, WHAT IN GODS NAME IS THE HOLE THERE FOR?! I am really worried, that i might get my thermal paste in therem and short the processor. Its this stuff i got from the local pc shop, and not until i was driving home did i realize that on the side of the syringe, it said "10% Silver" i was like WTF?! At first, i was like, ok i didnt want this, then i was like, schweet, arctic silver lol, for $1.61! YES lol, 1.0Grams of it, then i was like, wtf, wut if i short something?! Now i put it on my vga card (5200 NU) cuz that dont have a HOLE IN IT, but if it oozes into the heatspreader hole, my proc is gone, as in $157. Umm, NOT GOOD. How much do i need for a P4, just a fair sized blob in the middle, and let the H/S spread it? Thats what i'd imagine, i dont like spreading my paste around with a credit card, i like it to spread itself around. Im new to this....so, have some sympathy lol. Its just bugging me, "WHAT is that HOLE?"

Thanks,
-Nick

 

[Raven]

do you got a camera you so you can take a picture and post ?

also on www.arcticsilver.com you will find instructions on how to prepare the cpu.

 

[nsarpolis]

The Hole In The corner

 

[Raven]

okay that showed alot.
only a small area of the cpu need to be covered as the cpu die is much smaller than what you see.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm

but if you are unsure about this go and buy some non conductive thermal paste.

 

[gfilitti]

I'm speculating but, the hole may be to aid in the removal of the heat spreader and to allow for outgassing from production.


I wouldn't worry about it, just be careful and use very little paste. I've done a few of them, it's no biggy.

 

[nsarpolis]

lol, okay, i was jjust liike, WTF?! is there SOMETHING wrong?! at first

 

[sticks]

Acctually, I think I read somewhere that this hole is there so that in case the processor package fails there would be a hole that would vent the gases that result from such failure.... nothing to worry about....

Cheers!

 

[gfilitti]

Guess again

So I guess I was partially correct in my speculation.....After Googling

The hole in the P4's heat spreader is a result of the manufacturing process. The IHS is glued to the processor substrate with epoxy at the Intel plant. The hole allows gases and pressure to escape while the epoxy cures. Without the hole the pressure would deform the epoxy bond and make the connection between substrate and IHS uneven.

http://www.ocfaq.com/article.php/overclocking/intel/37

Letter from Intel in a post here http://www.ntcompatible.com/thread23750-1.html

I would imagine without it, the trapped air, and gases, would cause separation of the heatspreader from the ceramic, once the CPU is put in use.

 

[Wonkanoby]

its so you can hang it on a pendant chain after you cook it trying to o/c it to 4 ghz

 

[Raven]

Originally posted by Wonkanoby
its so you can hang it on a pendant chain after you cook it trying to o/c it to 4 ghz

Lol

 

[nsarpolis]

Better Get Than Chain! My motherboard has a FIXED PCI/AGP etc, so i can OC right to hell, and everything else will be trotting along at regular speed.....AWESOME!!! lol, nah, i only plan on going to 3.0GHz, in the future, when i get my Thermaltake p4 Spark 7+, yeahhhhhhh.

For now, on intel cooling, i will probabally stay at stock. :lol_anim:

 

[Del UK]

Opps.........

I guess I will stop drilling holes............ :lol_anim:

Ho Hum.........

 

[IntelBuster]

A new trend Intel is trying to start......actually...it's there to vent off vapors to keep the core from self-destructing. But...IMHO, that is no way to design a processor. Look at AMD's 90nm versions....they are fast AND cool. EDIT: And AMD does it without any holes!!! Can you imagine thermal paste trickling in there and shorting it out!!!! Whew...glad I've come to my senses and gone AMD!!!

 

[kt6user]

you see these holes on gpu's I've noticed

P.S

Check out the nails on that person demonstrating Arctic Silver application on their website!

 

[Del UK]

Originally posted by kt6user
you see these holes on gpu's I've noticed

P.S

Check out the nails on that person demonstrating Arctic Silver application on their website!

Always wonder what Nov Joes hands look like..........

 

[kt6user]

Thats what happens when you scrape thermal pads off with your fingernails

 

[clogler]

 

[NickS_]

LOL.  I was just reading this thread, brought back good 'ol memories of MSI, and me and my first intel, which i still have and its goin great.  Dont regret it a bit. 

 

[rprough]

Some of you are right on. The hole is actually there for the outgassing of the chemical gas created during the curing of the adhesive holding the heat spreader on the cpu. After that its actually pretty useless. So I wouldnt worry too much if you ever get a little thermal compound in it.

 

[peerob]

I have a small hole where noxious gases often escape, I find it comes in quite useful and I would be lost without it!