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Dielectric Gel

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8 replies

by triathlete1981

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Can someone recommend a good dielectric gel to put between the processor and heat sink of a server? The motherboard can hold two processors, so we bought a second one, but the second one came with a heat sink that has no dielectric gel on it.

Also, does someone know how much to put on, the coverage needed, a good brand to buy, what to put it on with, what to be careful of? You know, best practices for doing this.

8 replies

by mjd420nova

There are two types of heat sink compound. One is a clear type gel and can be pretty messy as it liqufies and gets everywhere. I use the white paste type and it works very well, only a small amount is needed and it wont run all over the place.

by jamesrl

Any place that sells processors and fans will likely sell the compound, though my fan came with a small tube.

I've heard from people who overclock that Zalman or Arctic silver paste is good.

The white paste is easier to see. You need to ensure total coverage.

The amount of coverage is about the thickness of a piece of paper - no more or its counter productive.

James

by thechas

Dielectric Gel and Heat Sink Compound are 2 very different chemicals.

Dielectric gel is designed to increase electrical conductivity. A bad thing to have happen near your CPU.

Heat Sink or Thermal Transfer Compound is designed to fill in the gaps between heat sink and the processor to improve the transfer of heat from the CPU to the heat sink.

Radio Shack or your local computer store are the easy places to pick up some heat sink compound.

Also, nearly every online retailer of computer parts sells the stuff in various formulas.

Keep in mind, that a little goes a long way. Using too much heat sink compound can often be worse than using none.

Chas

by bjay

You guys need to check the definition of "dielectric".
Dielectric grease does not conduct electricity - its primary purpose in an electrical connector is to prevent corrosion as from electrolysis and galvanic corrosion (dissimilar metals).
I hate to see misinformation on the web - especially really old misinformation.
Thanks,
Brian

ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectric

http://www.yourdictionary.com/dielectric

by older mycroft

Not to be confused with a DIELECTRIC which is actually useful.

The simple gainsaying of what the other person says is just a one-man argument.

:)

[i]A posted link to the definition would have sufficed.[/i] ;)

by triathlete1981

All three thumbs up b/c:
1. I got the thermal paste from Radio Shack thanks to nova
2. Bought the Arctic Silver 5 per James
3. Got the thermal paste instead of dielectric gel per Chas

Thanks for the help.

by thechas

A thank you back to you.

It is getting to be the exception that we get feedback either positive or negative for the answers we give.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Chas

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