I'm putting together a new computer from scratch and I hit a snag. Neither the processor or the motherboard package came with any thermal paste (something I have always received with one or the other before). The funny thing is, in the instructional manual for the processor there is nothing in the installation directions about thermal paste. It just goes straight from inserting the chip to positioning the heatsink! I have an Intel Core 2 Quad processor LGA 775 Intel X38. My question is, should I ignore my instincts and follow the directions as is, or should I go down to staples or whatever and get some thermal paste before proceeding?

thanks

alrighty

the whole shebang is set up, everything is connected per the instruction manual, but I have hit another snag. When I boot the computer on, everything runs smooth, except there is no beeping and I cannot boot the BIOS. I believe this is because there is no cord inside the tower to plug into the 4 pin receptor for the system's onboard speakers that make those little chirpy error and BIOS beeping noises. I am pretty baffled by this, as I have never encountered a tower that didnt have the needed cable to plug this shit in and get rolling. I dont even really know what my question is other than... what tests/jimmy rigging/trial and error procedures am I going to need to do to get this sorted out?

I think you need some paste.

Unless it's one of those that comes with the thermal paste where you peel of the label and stick the heatsink on top (like most AMDs) and they are both bald plain copper and CPU you will defo need a little syringe of thermal paste.

Arctic cooling stuff is pretty good.

actually I was just inspecting the bottom of the heatsink and there is already thermal paste on it. hooray staples is far away

actually I was just inspecting the bottom of the heatsink and there is already thermal paste on it. hooray staples is far away

I was about to mention that. Usually the new intel processors come with a heatsink that have some thermal paste already applied.
It's a pretty bad thermal paste, but it gets the job done.

They come with thermal paste on the bottom, but really considering it isn't that expensive I would recommend replacing it.

Note that if you want to use different thermal paste, or if you ever remove the heatsink in the future, you should always thoroughly clean the contacting surfaces of thermal paste before reapplying it.

new question, read bottom of first post

A speaker could really help you diagnose the problem if it is in fact beeping. Otherwise you're limited to double checking all your connections, making sure everything is compatible, and swapping out parts to help troubleshoot (if you have spares).

Could you post the hardware you've got so far in the computer? That might help us out a little bit.

case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062

motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131235

video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329

processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115043

ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145183

hdd: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

cd/dvd: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827101131

yeah the fact that there is no audio cable coming from the front of the case is really obnoxious. I dont know why it came like that and personally I think that is the main obstacle, because if I had that aspect of the whole shebang working, troubleshooting this bitch would be so much easier (if any was needed at all)

I'm not very knowlegable on intels, but maybe his mobo supporting "quad core" and not "core 2 quad" makes a difference?

Nah if his processor fits in the mobo and it says it supports quad core then that works.

Try removing everything except the essential parts to starting the cpu up. So remove one of the ram sticks and that DVD drive.
But yeah, those beeps would help a lot. You can also try swapping the slots in which you put the ram stick in, I'm not sure if that would help though. Just keep the essential components connected, that will narrow things down.

As for the PC speaker issue. I'd suggest looking in the bags that came in the case. Sometimes they don't include a cord for attaching to the motherboard's pc speaker header. Instead they'll put the speaker in one of the bags the screws came in. Then you just plug it into the header and it just hangs there, almost like a tumor.