No thermal compound...

[tractorboy]

thermal paste is recommended, but not needed, i have seen many pc's with out it, also , thermal paste dries out, which when it does , does it have the oposite effect ? If you have paste, use it, if you do not, i would not worry. After all , when you buy a processor from intel, they give you a fan and heatsink, no paste... if paste was necessary they would include it + not using paste does not void your warranty.

 

[b182tm]

Intel does come with a thermal pad on the heatsink.

 

[root]

thermal paste dries out, which when it does , does it have the oposite effect ?

no, since the only real job of thermal paste is to fill tiny air gaps, the 'wetness' of the paste makes no difference to it's capabilities.

 

[kev]

If he bought it retail then there was a pad at the bottom of the HS which would explain why he is not overheating. Its when you buy aftermarket HS you need to put some past on. You should be fine. If you dident have a pad you would of been in trouble a long time ago.