quote:
Originally posted by rav0
Metal to metal contact is best. No sarcasm, just facts.
quote:
Originally posted by Apatik
to me, it's just nonsense to say that about CPU cooling, but well...
The reason for the use of thermal compound is because surfaces (the top of the CPU and the bottom of the heatsink) have imperfections. When imperfect surfaces are pressed against each other, the scratches and indentations remain filled with air. Air is a poor heat conductor, so that decreases the cooling efficiency.
Thermal compound is a soft paste, so it easily fills such microscopic cavities and gaps, and conducts heat much better than air (but not as well as metal).
That is why you want to use the thermal compound, but you only want to use the least possible amount.
