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Experimental Heatsink Compound
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New MessageExperimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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Here's the deal.....I'm trying out a new thermal transfer compound, copper based. I need a few people willing to try it out. There's no guarantee of any sort...remember, this is a beta test program. All I need is about twenty or so people willing to try it. All I ask is a fair test by people using any heatsink/fan/computer.....and a temp monitoring program. I'd like to know before and after results, as well as overall impressions of the stuff.

Here's a partial list of what's in it, OSHA numbers included:

Organophilic Bentonite (68953-58-2)
Heavy Petroleum Oil (8002-05-9)
Copper (7440-50-8)
Naphthenic Distillate (64742-52-5)
Graphite (7782-42-5)

I'm hoping this works better than Artic Silver....Silver and copper have almost the same thermal transfer ability. This compound should be better because of the higher percentage of the base metal in the mixture. The consistancy is slightly stiffer than Artic Silver....The application procedure is the same..not much is required. Don't get the stuff in your eyes, on your skin, on your clothes, or on the motherboard (it's conductive). This is a serious offer. If it works out, maybe Badflash or Codeman could sell it.

I have the stuff in a bulk quantity....I could send it in three gram units (same as a tube of Artic Silver). I do have one problem...what could I ship it in? Anybody know where I could find some very small, flat containers, like a ziploc bag?

Serious people only please...leave an e-mail address. This is a free offer.....Oh, and don't ask me too many questions...this is a secret compound.

03-21-2002 18:18:34

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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Oh...people I recognize off the Linux-Hacker boards get high priority.
03-21-2002 18:48:54

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) Linuxguru
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It looks like it will work, based on the composition. However, I have some reservations about using any conductive formulation on exposed die (specifically, any recent FCPGA PIII/Celeron or Athlon/Duron). Basically, you are electrically coupling the substrate to the heatsink - but the substrate is not a digital ground. Thus, you need to ensure that the heatsink never shorts out with any power plane, including the metal chassis. IMHO, a little restrictive.
03-21-2002 19:51:58

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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It does work...I've got it running on an I-Opener right now. I just need more testing. Artic Silver is also conductive. If you use this on an I-Opener you won't have the die problem, since the die is not exposed. In any case, you shouldn't get anything on the m-board anyway. If you see this compound, you'll be impressed. It looks like liquid copper.
03-21-2002 21:38:48

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) 02U2
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Could try injecting it into clear .25" heat shrink tubing then using a commercial bag sealer cut it off into sections.
Just an idea...
03-21-2002 23:27:18

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) *SF*
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Actualy, If You have (Seal a Meal) a bag sealer
& bags with pinfeed holes every inch or whatever,
Take a Foot or so & seal @ every hole, turn it around & do every hole again.
Now just cut right down the center for 2 strips
of small pouches you can cut apart, fill & seal.
Keep your sealing surfaces Clean !
You will get the Idea. Adjust for the Bag size you want.
You can even funnel shape your end by using Diagonal sealing !
& a little notch cut outside of the seal
will enable it to be torn open like a pack of ketchup.
03-22-2002 00:06:53

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) BubbaDog56
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ckbone,

Drop me a line with your address and I can send you some small syringes to pack it in at no cost. I am interested in trying it with my Netier thin client, my K6 III+/450 is too hot for the passive cooling. I'm modifying a heatsink/fan combo that I found at a local surplus outlet to fit inside and will run the 12v fan at 7v to eliminate the noise. However, with the heatsink area reduced to fit and the fan slowed down I'll need whatever advantage I can get. I'll be posting the heatsink/fan mods if successful, and will see about a group buy on the things if there is an interest....

B'Dog
BubbaDog56@ev1.net

03-22-2002 06:36:49

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) 02U2
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Interesting reading...http://www.chillblast.com/reviews/paste.htm
03-24-2002 03:34:28

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) 02U2
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one more and that's it...http://www.thetechzone.com/reviews/roundup/thermal_compound/index.htm
03-24-2002 03:44:32

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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Interesting ....the one copper-based compound in the last set of tests scored pretty well a 1/3 the cost. I never tried baking my copper compound....it's heat-proof, doesn't run, and has no greasy feel. I'm sending some to Bubbadog56. Maybe he can give an unbiased opinion.
03-24-2002 07:07:57

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) GWIZAH
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Sign me up for a tube.
I have several machines Id like to test it on.


gwizahone(AT)hotmail.com

03-24-2002 18:57:49

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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One more thing about this compound....I DO NOT recommend it's use on an I-Opener with a stock heatsink. Having done many experiments on this setup in the past, I found the clearances between the heatsink and the CPU to vary quite a bit. I presume that is why the stock attachment requires a thick thermal pad, rather than compound.

As soon as I find a suitable shipping container, I'll get back to anyone who wants any. BubbaDog56 has some small syringes, but I don't know if they'll work. I don't own any sealing machine, so I'm still searching......

03-25-2002 04:33:47

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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Ok....Found a supply of small zip-loc type bags at a hobby shop. These hold up to 5 grams of compound. They'll work just fine...You can open the top and reseal the bag or cut off a corner and squeeze out small amounts. So I'm ready to ship to anyone who wants to try this out.
03-25-2002 19:37:14

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) frankens
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We have little 2X2 zip lock bags if you are interested.. unless that is the size you've found...otherwise as prior suggested, take the 2x2 and w/ a heat sealer, cut it in half to a 2x1.. I'ld be willin to try the stuff....
03-25-2002 20:40:24

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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Thanks for the suggestions on a packing container....I'm set now. These are 1 1/2" square ziploc bags. I cover the filled bag with a fold of clear strapping tape to streighten it. It'll work fine...

If you want any, leave me an address to send it to, or an E-Mail address. This stuff is free till the quota is used up.

03-26-2002 05:00:11

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) IC32
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(I know I'm knew, but I can't seem to get your email address for a direct response)
I'd be happy to try some... I have 4 iOpeners, a OC'd Abit BP6 dual CPU mobo, and a pair of old 266mhz Dell Optiplex test machines that are all experimentation-friendly, so if you'd like some heat testing, I'm your man!

I am hoping to get some tests done on the chipset of the BP6 as well, which heats up considerably when overclocked to 100mhz FSB in SMP mode. Also might be able to test your stuff with a heat pipe by this summer. I'll review it for you as well...

Thanks,

4047 8th Ave NE
Seattle, Wa 98105


"Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult."
03-26-2002 14:10:42

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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Slight shipping delay because of an ice-storm yesterday. All samples should go out today. Let me know of there's any shipping damage with the mailers.
03-27-2002 04:32:11

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) Rezz
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IC32

Few people I've ever met even know what a heat pipe is. I've toyed with the idea of building one for this type of application, but that is as far as it's gone. I assume you build your own, what is the phase change fluid you use? I would be very interested in what you have done if you would care to share.

BTW: I'm in seattle as well.


ckbone

I would like to try some also. Could you activate your e-mail address in your profile so we know where to send an e-mail request, please.

03-27-2002 13:19:07

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) 02U2
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Hmmmm,IC32...
You near the U of W ?
03-27-2002 13:45:50

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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ckbone(at)ivwnet.com

I don't always get e-mails, so leave your own e-mail address to be sure. The quantity in the little sample bag weighs in at 4 to 5 grams. If I ever sell the stuff it would probably be sold in 3 gram units.

Heh...at the post office they asked if I was mailing anything that could be a hazard. If you get the stuff on your new shirt, it's a real hazard.....or if your kid eats it.

03-27-2002 17:48:37

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) Lokrien
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Hey ckbone, i am interested in giving it a try. I have my main system (thunderbird 1200) and my iopener i would liek to try.

lokrien ( at ) hotmail . com

danke!

03-30-2002 12:19:13

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) GWIZAH
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CKbone,

Hmmm...Well the stuff works. Unfortunately, I was trying it out with a Celery system and I think I fried the CPU.

The before temp was 89.2 F with a stock intel celeron heatsink. 400 Mhz.

I used a small amount on the stock Intel heatsink and when I started up the box I checked the temp. It was steady at 83.6 degrees F. I then let it run for about 15 minutes and restarted to check it in the BIOS. It was running at about 87.4 F. A little high, but still reasonable. I shut down and Now I pulled off the heat sink to see how viscous the goo was...Nice and smooth. Well now when I placed my heatsink back on the processor and started it up again, I didnt get any post beeps. No video. WTF? I tried reseating the memory since it gets tricky, but the absence of beeps has me worried. Im wondering if I somehow fried my processor. Anyone want to help me out here? I tried again, no Beeps...Case fan, processor fan running. No video. Did I let the smoke out?

04-01-2002 21:43:48

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) 02U2
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GWIZAH, Have you tried reseating the cpu? I had a similar problem with a board couple months ago till I figured out that it was the socket not making full contact with the cpu pins...I had to press the cpu sideways a bit with the lever up first then secured it. Worked fine after that! Just a thought?
04-01-2002 23:03:05

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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GWIZAH....hope you get it going. I've got this compound running successfully on a PII and a PIII.....both are slot types.

One thing that I like about this copper compound is that you can see it, even small amounts, because of it's striking color. If you apply some over a slightly rough surface such as a typical heatsink...if you rub it off, you can still see the copper compound embedded in the low spots. In effect it fills the small air pockets, and you can actually see it doing so.

04-02-2002 05:16:22

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) turbowsr
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From another BBS on Water Cooling we got into the Thermal properties of Metals. Well even though many companies are going to Copper. It really isn't a good metal to use. It soaks the heat up very fast, faster than Aluminum, BUT it releases it slower than Aluminum. So it actually holds the temp longer than Aluminum. That is why some went to the Aluminum Heat sink with Copper insert. I'm not saying this compound is no good. It is definatly better than none and the Radio Shack white stuff. But for better thermal disapation, maybe adding some Aluminum to the mix would help. But you also have to figure in migration (one metal "soaking" up the other.) This is why Aluminum heads on a cars engine has a special type of head gasket when mated with a Steal block.
This is why Artic Silver is actually better. Silver has better thermal properties than both Aluminum and Copper, both in absorbtion and disapation. Need a silver Heatsink :) Anyhow, good luck with the compound.
04-08-2002 15:38:15

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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Hmmm....Look, I'm not a thermal engineer, I'm just experimenting with some compounds. What I have here is thermal transfer compound. Copper is very good at heat transfer. It is not so good at heat radiation. That's why heatsink fins are usually aluminum. The copper compound helps transfer the heat to the aluminum fins, which in turn radiate the heat with help from a fan......correct me if I'm wrong. Read my original explanation of this stuff. I'm hoping it'll work better than Artic silver because of a higher metal (copper) content. Maybe silver compound could work better with a higher percentage....at a much higher cost of course. Hey, just try the stuff....you might be surprised.
04-08-2002 16:29:17

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) turbowsr
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Hey CKBone,
Not trying to knock ya any. I have read a lot of your posts, and you have some awsome Ideas. ESP the Imac clone (or is it the imac the clone :)
I am no thermal engineer. Its just I have went thru this before on another BBS (some defunct water cooling site now long gone). I agree that this would be cheaper vs the Artic Silver, and better than the Radio shack stuff. Its just sometimes ideas come from what others are doing (so and so has copper heat sinks, so we ought to also), but really didn't know the process to get there. I was just trying to give a heads up on the thermal properties. I have a chart (somewhere) with compounds and their thermal properties.
Nkow why most wires are copper and so are most PC boards? Cost/metal properties. So why not Copper thermal Compound. I would gladly help with this project by using it, but I really never overclock, and right now I use this Dell latitude laptop with P166MMX, I have two Athlon PC's, one K7, the other T-Bird. Also have a K6 in the same household. (YES, I prefer AMD).
Good luck.
04-08-2002 17:28:54

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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No offence taken.....You don't have to overclock to make good use of a superior thermal compound. Some of the temps mentioned on these boards frighten me. I get shakey when I see 45c......With these small computers you need all the help you can get.
04-08-2002 18:45:50

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) GWIZAH
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Um, CKbone...

Im not sure if my Mobo is flakey or what...I think the Pc100 slot is quirky...but I keep getting a constant temp of about 100°F. Not good. Im going to try it out with a PIII 450 and see the results I get. Can you guys recommend a good CPU temp monotoring proggie? Im using the hardware monitor on the Mobo currently.

04-08-2002 20:58:30

New MessageRE:Experimental Heatsink Compound (modified 0 times) ckbone
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http://www.podien.onlinehome.de/CPUCOOL.HTM
04-09-2002 04:05:50

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