Going from AS2 to AS3

[LuDaCriS66]

I cleaned off the Arctic Silver 2 I had on my Gainward GF3 Ti200 and my Athlon XP 1700+ earlier today and applied some Arctic Silver 3 and I'm already seeing the difference!
I'm using an SK6 with a 5000rpm YS-Tech fan on my Athlon XP and I usually got temps around 46-48 degrees celsius even just browsing the net.
Now that I used some compressed air to blow out most of the dust on the SK6 and applied the AS3, I'm getting temps around 40-42 degrees celsius. Quite an improvement.. I'm thinking most of the change in temperature was because of the AS3.. but a lot of it had to be all that blackish dust on my SK6. I need a damn dust filter for my SX630 soon..
Doesn't arctic silver need around 72 hours to totally settle in though? So should I expect a slight rise in temperature after that, a decrease, or no change?
Oh yeah and while I was wiping off the old AS2 on my SK6 and HSF on my GF3 Ti200, I noticed dark spots on the heatsinks around where the chip's would be.. I just wiped it off along with the AS.. is that anything to be concerned about?

 

[Mindbreeze]

Not sure about the dark spots, but regarding the performance after the 72 hour "burn in" period for your AS3. You should notice roughly a 4 degree improvement on temps.

MB

 

[erikiksaz]

I don't think you'd see much of an improvement. You figure that the AS2 was worked into your heatsink base, if done properly anyways. And if somehow you managed to clean all the microscopic nooks and crannies of your heatsink base, then i would think otherwise. Now if you were installing this on a new heatsink, maybe it would have been different.

 

[adlep]

Hmm thats strange
The purpose of thermal paste is not to cool down but to make a processor and heatsink stick to each other without any gaps and "air bubles". The rest (cooling) is up to the heatsink and fans. I would say that the diffrience between As2 and As3 (if both propertly applied) should be no greather that fraction of the degree of celcius (max .5)...

 

[bbarnes]

On the Arctic Silver website, they claim that AS3 will give you at least a 2-3 degree celsius improvement, that is, with no other conditions included (you will get more also because you removed the dust...

 

[Compellor]

<< On the Arctic Silver website, they claim that AS3 will give you at least a 2-3 degree celsius improvement, that is, with no other conditions included (you will get more also because you removed the dust... >>



Well, they're in the business of selling this stuff, so, they're going to make statements like that to get you to buy it.

 

[ChrisADuffy]

AS3 will yield a big difference compared to AS2 and Arctic Alumina, check for yourself HERE.

I just ordered my Jumbo tube from SIDEWINDER and will use it on both my processors, both video cards and chipset coolers on the motherboards.

After 72 hours I will proceed to overclock the heck out of my systems and test them with 3DMark2001.

Get Some.

 

[bbarnes]

<< Arctic Silver 3 was formulated to conduct heat, not electricity. It is only electrically conductive in a thin layer under extreme compression. >>



This is the only thing keeping me from trying it, how likely is it that I will mess it up (haven't got much experience with this kinda stuff)?

 

[Anubis]

id say your temp improvemnt is totally due to the dust youremoved. i just dusted my case my SK6 was covered and i see a 4-5 degree c drop in temps

 

[erikiksaz]

<< AS3 will yield a big difference compared to AS2 and Arctic Alumina, check for yourself HERE.

I just ordered my Jumbo tube from SIDEWINDER and will use it on both my processors, both video cards and chipset coolers on the motherboards.

After 72 hours I will proceed to overclock the heck out of my systems and test them with 3DMark2001.

Get Some. >>



I don't trust that review. He says here, "Just like with Alumina, during the first stage (i.e. initial use of a few hours) the compound thins out to fill in any microscopic gaps/grooves/dents/etc." What confuses me is how he conducted the review. Did he just clean off the top, visible layer of the Arctic stuff before reapplying? If so, that renders his whole review and "benchmarks" obsolete. Cleaning the top of the heatsink just removes the top layer, as the "microscopic gaps/grooves/dents/etc" are still filled with whatever he applied first. But if you can prove me wrong, answer this question. How could he have possibly cleaned off all of those microscopic gaps before reapplying a new layer of AS2/Alumina/AS3?

Soo, since you already have it, apply it. I wouldn't expect any drastic changes.

 

[ChrisADuffy]

<< I don't trust that review. He says here, "Just like with Alumina, during the first stage (i.e. initial use of a few hours) the compound thins out to fill in any microscopic gaps/grooves/dents/etc." What confuses me is how he conducted the review. Did he just clean off the top, visible layer of the Arctic stuff before reapplying? If so, that renders his whole review and "benchmarks" obsolete. Cleaning the top of the heatsink just removes the top layer, as the "microscopic gaps/grooves/dents/etc" are still filled with whatever he applied first. But if you can prove me wrong, answer this question. How could he have possibly cleaned off all of those microscopic gaps before reapplying a new layer of AS2/Alumina/AS3? >>



Just emailed Mikhail to find out more info on the methods for his review. I am thinking he probably used clean or new heatsinks in the review. Nevertheless I will post his reply.

 

[ChrisADuffy]

Received the reply from Mikhail concerning the review.



<< All I can say is stuff like this is a bit too scientific. I cleaned the top layer off with rubbing alcohol. Either way some microscopic gaps will be filled by something all the time so that in itself is a bit redundant. Also, mixing AS2 + AS Alumina actually yields better results than AS2 or Alumina alone, so AS3's three sizes are even more effective. Cleaning or not, the 3-5C difference is noticeable. Look around the net, all reviews show AS3 to be significantly better. This guy does have a valid point but testing to such accuracy would be ridiculous. Let me know if you need anything else. >>



I myself have looked around the net and what he says is true, the three different particle sizes makes all the difference. Needless to say I will be applying AS3 this weekend when I have time.

 

[Nessism]

I'm still using AS1, any compelling reasons to change? My temps are fine.

 

[beatle]

<< I'm still using AS1, any compelling reasons to change? My temps are fine. >>



I don't see any reason why you'd want to unless you just enjoy spending the $$ and applying it. If you were looking to get a few more mhz or solve heat related stability problems it might be worthwhile.

 

[HappyPuppy]

I have to vote for dust removal as the primary reason for the temp drop. The ASIII would probably help, but I can't believe it would make that much of a difference.

 

[ChrisADuffy]

Dusting on a regular basis is a must and so is having top quality thermal compounds for maximum heat conductivity.