Reducing CPU temps on X24/X23/X22/X21/X20's w/Arctic Silver

[underclocker]

I did it. I used the thermal grease method after removing the metal shim and adhesive tape. I replaced the fan, tightened all four screws, then removed the fan, yet again. There was a perfect rectangle of thermal grease on the fan. The metal of the fan does touch the CPU.

I cleaned everything up, reapplied the Arctic Silver and closed everything up.

It does make you wonder why that shim was used and what it's made of.

I just rebooted so I can't tell you the temp. results yet, but I'll post some later.

Picture after applying AS5 to CPU, installing fan without shim, then removing fan to see if there was contact (yes!) --> http://www.nikkoaudio.com/pix/X24-Fan-C ... emoval.jpg

Picture of fan shim with adhesive tape --> http://www.nikkoaudio.com/pix/X24-Fan-C ... 20shim.jpg

[underclocker]

O.K., 20 minutes later with my usual battery scheme (CPU on very slow), the temp has stabilized at 38-39 degrees C., while on a counter, room temp is 76 F.

In the same room, on my lap, with heavy wifi usage (surfing the web) for 30 min. plus, the temps. rose to the high 40's and peaked at 53 degrees C.

So, the procedure probably hasn't hurt the machine, it appears to have helped. I won't replace the shim.

[faberryman]

Thanks for the inspiration. I did mine (X24) and the temperature of the CPU dropped 10-12 degrees Celsius. One additional hint: you can gently peel back (but not off!) the cellophane covering the bottom of the fan. The thermal pad is a very thin piece of metal (but thicker than foil), which if stuck, may appear to be part of the bottom of the fan itself. Once the thin metal pad is off, clean the bottom of the fan with isopropyl alcohol to get the the dried thermal paste off, then put the cellophane back in its original position before reinstalling. I put a very very thin coating of thermal grease on both the bottom of the fan and the top of the CPU so the microscopic groves in each are filled in with paste. As pointed out elsewhere, use a very very small amount of thermal paste.

[proaudioguy]

I don't have an X2x but I'm curious about this plastic film. Wouldn't it be better to remove it altogether? Plastic isn't a very good heat conductor between the processor and the heat sink.

[faberryman]

The plastic film is square with a square hole cut out of the center so that 1) the bottom of the fan/heatsink and the top of the CPU make direct contact, but 2) the bottom of the fan/heatsink does not touch (short) the traces on the green substrate on which the CPU sits.

[proaudioguy]

Ah, I can see it all clearly now.