I am looking into buying a new CPU and a few sites have listed a "Copper CPU Shim"? (see pic). Has anyone used it, does it work and is it worth the $9.25?
One came with my shuttle because the sink is attached with screws, and they don't want you to overtighten it on the die. My other computer with a regular spring clamp doesn't have one and its fine. Its just there to protect the die, and nothing else really.
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Mt_GoatHead Cheezy KnobPflugerville (north of Austin)Icrontian
edited October 2003
I have used coolers like the Swiftech and Alpha which screwdown to the mobo and were one of the leading resons for people using shims and never used one. I have always been very careful installing and removing heatsinks and never had a problem. If however you do decide to use one for whatever reason, make absolutely certain you get the correct one as there are now several for AMD socket A that have different cutouts to pkeep the bridges from shorting as well as different thickness. I think they are more trouble than they are worth.
I cracked a pally core when not using a shim, though I've installed TBreds many times w/out shims and no problems.
I have a shim around here some where. I think I paid like $5 for it. I definitely wouldn't pay $10 (unless you're factoring in shipping costs too).
Plus, AMD really hardened up the cores on the pally and Tbred/Barton cores compared to the old Tbird cores. I've never used a shim and have never cracked a core, but I try to be careful when removing and installing a hsf. I've always found my MC/MCX462 and 8045 hsf's to be much easier to mount than a clip mounted fan like most hsf's use.
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I have a shim around here some where. I think I paid like $5 for it. I definitely wouldn't pay $10 (unless you're factoring in shipping costs too).