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Thermal Paste longevity
Question for those in the know:
I have an ole AMD 2700 rig im trying to load linux so I can do some folding.
(Check out XPS Desktop Sticky at top if you are unaware of Stanford U Folding project!! Great Peeps, Great Way to have your idle machine help humanity!)
I am running a constant 81 degrees C with very little stress on it at this time.
I have an old tube of Arctic Silver compound, probably 4 years old, hanging around.
Any thoughts on if it would still be good? Me thinks I just need to re-seat and re-goop.
Bad Thought? I know I can just spend the 5 bucks on new tube, but I dont need a 6-pack at the moment. Is it Ok to use at this point? I dont think it degrades, but not sure
Thanks and Regards
shesagordie
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Posted April 12th, 2008 03:00
hccsf
:)
Bev.
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Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.A) for the cost of the paste, what the heck, I need to get some air tomorrow anyway, so im off to get some paste
B) and yes, please ty_ger! and anyone else that reviews this: If you have had any friends, family, etc dealing with/or if you have dealt with issues such as Parkinsons, Cancer, Alzimers, please check out the Stanford Folding at Home project.
There are a number of people that are contributing through the TEAM_XPS group listed above.
It costs you nothing other then CPU cycles when you are not using your machine.
Fantastic strides can be made for some horrific maladies. I do believe many on the TEAM_XPS group know first hand how devistating some of these diseases can be, and even if you are blessed with perfect health and family, it aint a bad group to get to know!
Sorry for the pontification and thanks for the help!
Regards
Conventional train of thought is that its shelf life is around 5-6 months. Once it is applied to your heatsink it can last a lot longer because it goes through the "burn-in" period and solidifies more. But, if left in the tube for extended periods of time, it will seperate and part of it will solidify and the other part will remain all watery.
Buy some new stuff....
EDIT: I was slow on the draw, now we having competing opinions.
I have two computers lying around doing nothing; I should get some folding done.
Message Edited by ty_ger on 04-11-2008 11:32 PMshesagordie
12 Elder
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46017 Posts
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Posted April 12th, 2008 03:00
hccsf
If it's been keeped sealed tight and has not seperated, the thermal compound should be fine.
Bev.
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Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.Oh, no problem.
I will get the other guys going. I did run folding @ home on my last computer for a couple days under tigerwolf's account just to see what it was all about, but that was right before I built it into this computer and did a fresh install.
I need to buy a cheap case and a cheap video card (maybe 8600GT) for my "old" computer (was 4 mos old) and I will be in business.
hccsf
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Posted April 12th, 2008 03:00
Thanks for the confirmation Bev, was my thinking but just wanted 2nd opinion.
Regards