Motherboard replacement 23

   Lithium grease?

   I'm surprised any system put together with such is still working. Lithium grease doesn't have the same properties, thermal or otherwise, as true electronic heat sink compound (which usually has a high proportion of silicone).

   I'm not sure what the "silver stuff" you refer to is, but most modern CPU-fan interfaces have gotten away from using the grease-like heat sink compound completely, and have gone instead to special thermal- transfer pads. Such can often be found through larger electronic supply houses, or you may be able to talk the manufacturer of such out of a sample.

   If you can't find the thermal pads, you may be able to get away with using regular heat sink compound. Radio Shack sells small tubes of it for a couple of bucks, catalog number 276-1372.

   To use the stuff, place a small dollop in the middle of the CPU, where the heat sink makes contact. Next, make sure that the bottom of the heat sink is perfectly clean, and free of any old pad material or goo. Use 99% isopropyl alcohol to clean it off (DO NOT use 93% or 70% solutions, as they have too high a percentage of water).

   You can usually find 99% at good-sized drug stores or (once again) through the big electronic supply houses. Radio Shack does not, as far as I know, carry it, but Fry's usually does under the 'MG Chemicals' label. Note that it may be called Isopropanol.

   Once the heat sink surface is cleaned off and fully dried, clip it in place over the dollop of goo. Try not to let it separate from the CPU once it's down.

   Happy tweaking.

-- Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Insbreastute (Known to some as Bruce Lane, KC7GR) "Salvadore Dali's computer has surreal ports..."