Put on Heat Sink Then Took It Off Is It Ok to Put Back on
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I have a couple of mostly dead servers that are having CPU issues that prevent it from even getting to POST. I want to swap in a different (compatible) set of CPUs from a different mostly dead server and see if it can get to the start of POST. I don't have any CPU thermal paste right now, but I'm wondering if its OK to put the heatsink on without thermal paste and turn it on for just a few seconds. The old paste has been removed.
(I know you can boil water in about 5s on a processor without a heatsink - I've tested it myself). The systems are r710s with some lower-end xeons from the time (5520/5540)
Edited Jun 27, 2017 at 21:46 UTC
Up until my last two computers (all built myself, since 2003), I've never used thermal paste on a CPU heatskink. I've only used it on the latest because it came with the CPU.
I would absolutely give it a try, and I would even base that try on my ME degree (I understand the heat transfer effects going on, we designed/tested multiple heat sinks). Make sure both mating surfaces are clean.
The paste can't conduct heat to the heat sink faster than the processor or heatsink itself, all it does is fill the air gaps, because it DOES transfer heat faster than those air gaps. If the surfaces aren't clean, polished, smooth, etc., it could fail catastrophically.
Paste is typicallyrecommended.
That said, I do not know how those particular Xeons will handle getting hot, that's truly the deciding factor.
May I present to you my favorite CPU benchmark of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vrh3WoATzw
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I wouldn't recommend it, thermal paste is pretty cheap :)
I wouldn't do it. I saw an AMD CPU burn up due to that, many years ago. I've never had any interest in trying it since then.
Up until my last two computers (all built myself, since 2003), I've never used thermal paste on a CPU heatskink. I've only used it on the latest because it came with the CPU.
I would absolutely give it a try, and I would even base that try on my ME degree (I understand the heat transfer effects going on, we designed/tested multiple heat sinks). Make sure both mating surfaces are clean.
The paste can't conduct heat to the heat sink faster than the processor or heatsink itself, all it does is fill the air gaps, because it DOES transfer heat faster than those air gaps. If the surfaces aren't clean, polished, smooth, etc., it could fail catastrophically.
Paste is typicallyrecommended.
That said, I do not know how those particular Xeons will handle getting hot, that's truly the deciding factor.
May I present to you my favorite CPU benchmark of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vrh3WoATzw
That's exactly what happened to the AMD CPU that I saw. I kept it on my bench as a reminder to never run without a heatsink.ScarInt wrote:
May I present to you my favorite CPU benchmark of all time
I will have the heatsink on, but there just won't be thermal paste between the CPU and the heatsink. I only need it to run for about 10 seconds so I can check to see if POST starts - the current CPUs in it don't even make it to POST, throwing a E1410 error which seems to indicate something is wrong with the CPUs.DragonsRule wrote:
That's exactly what happened to the AMD CPU that I saw. I kept it on my bench as a reminder to never run without a heatsink.ScarInt wrote:
May I present to you my favorite CPU benchmark of all time
When it comes to expensive CPUs I prefer to err on the side of caution. I've never run one without thermal paste. Maybe times have changed? I haven't built a machine in a while. I started building back in the 80386 days and stopped around the time of the Core2Duo.
Haha these CPUs are from like 2008. We could probably buy a replacement for like $40. We don't exactly have new server tech here. I'll put them in and let you know how it goes. If they work I'll get some thermal paste and put humpty dumpty back together again. If they don't work, well I'll have scrambled dumpty then.
In my opinion some form of grease is necessary to have an adequate thermal conduction across the interface. Obviously the proper thermal compound is best but provided the surfaces are clean and smooth so that the thickness of grease is extremely thin then any greases will do the job. Just a smear and the two surfaces rubbed together to get a good seating will do. And generally the bios has a temperature page and so you can see how well you are doing. It is surprising how well this will work. Once you have done your CPU test and have arrived at a set of equipment you want to use, it will be best to replace the grease with the proper thermal compound when you get it.
Booted it up, let it run for a minute or two, confirmed at least one of the old CPUs had died somehow. CPU wasn't even warm when I popped it out of the socket just a few seconds after power off and taking off the heatsink :)
And wow, never had a heatsink so easily swapped. Kudos to dell for making it super easy.
My boss went to fetch some thermal paste from a shop, will be installing it shortly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NYduubaf8Y
I have to admit, this was the first thing that came to mind.
LaserValley Technologies is an IT service provider.
Ah the dark days before AMD got their thermal control together. Saw lots of catastrophic failures on AMD when the cooling fan failed. One heat sink got so hot the the fan started to melt.ScarInt wrote:
Up until my last two computers (all built myself, since 2003), I've never used thermal paste on a CPU heatskink. I've only used it on the latest because it came with the CPU.
I would absolutely give it a try, and I would even base that try on my ME degree (I understand the heat transfer effects going on, we designed/tested multiple heat sinks). Make sure both mating surfaces are clean.
The paste can't conduct heat to the heat sink faster than the processor or heatsink itself, all it does is fill the air gaps, because it DOES transfer heat faster than those air gaps. If the surfaces aren't clean, polished, smooth, etc., it could fail catastrophically.
Paste is typicallyrecommended.
That said, I do not know how those particular Xeons will handle getting hot, that's truly the deciding factor.
May I present to you my favorite CPU benchmark of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vrh3WoATzw
I would like to say one thing, peanut butter and toothpaste can work as a thermal interface material (TIM) and there have been tests run showing they work. Check youtube. You need to use something as a heat transfer, even mayonnaise. Do not leave it bare as air gaps will cause it to overheat and melt stuff. After you are done testing, use ISO alcohol and clean it up.
I know this thread is a few months old, but no one else has pointed out that homemade TIM is better than no TIM.
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Put on Heat Sink Then Took It Off Is It Ok to Put Back on
Source: https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2010917-can-you-run-a-system-without-thermal-paste-for-a-few-seconds
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