AGP G4 No Thermal Paste?

[LCARS]

My last task to update my AGP is to replace the thermal paste but when I removed the heatsink I didn't see any evidence of paste, only what looks like a thermally conductive block. Is this correct? No TP needed?

 

[Unknown_K]

Yes, that is what the black stuff is for. Once you pull the heatsink off you should probably put a drop of heatsink compound on it before you put it back on.

 

[Paralel]

You can replace it with a new thermal pad if you can find one of a similar thickness somewhere.

I'd imagine a thermal pad now is much better than what they had back then.

 

[treellama]

I've never used any with mine, they don't get very hot and the metal to metal contact is pretty good. But, officially, you should probably use some paste or a thermal pad

 

[LCARS]

Thank you all the the help. A few follow ups:

By removing the heatsink did I weak the pad?

I'm assuming the pad from Newegg like a carbon "Thermal Grizzly" is a replacement? I don't want to mess with the original so I'm also assuming that its just a thin sheet.

Any problem just reattaching for now to use the machine while I wait for a new pad? The plastic shroud on the die is so close to the contact points that I don't want to risk paste getting under there.

 

[Unknown_K]

Those pads are like wax and melt from pressure and heat to form a good seal. Once you take the heatsink off the pad can deform or crumble (one use design) which is why I just clean it off and use a small dab of heatsink compound.

As others have said early G4's don't get that hot so it's not that critical to replace the pad unless it is falling apart (air gaps).

 

[Byrd]

I’ve always considered those pads single use only; I’ve always removed them (some peel off like foil others like wax as Unknown_K notes) and have replaced with proper thermal paste after cleaning both the CPU and heatsink.

Don’t leave metal on metal; you might as well spend ten seconds with thermal paste to keep the CPU as cool as possible.

 

[LCARS]

@Unknown_K How did you clean it off? I've tried to gently peel up an edge but its not forthcoming and I'm worried that I'll make a mess of it. This one isn't peeling off like wax.
@Byrd I agree. A little thermal paste to keep things cool.

 

[Unknown_K]

Scrape it off with some tool that will not put groves in the aluminum.

 

[Byrd]

Acetone on the wax (leave it for a few mins) + clean razor removes it without scratching, or wipe down with isopropyl alcohol after acetone application