Thanks again. I probably won't have access to the PC until I get back to London in June, so have time to decide what to do: probably stick to my Fenrir air cooler...

 

Am tempted to do the job (replace the thermal compound) myself, but am a bit worried about how it might go, especially about separating the CPU form the heatsink and cleaning the surfaces. Probably a piece of cake, but I don't want to break the CPU! I usually find that if anything can go wrong with this kind of project, it will (when I try to do it myself!).

Martin - the only thing you need to be careful of are those tiny finger connection on the 1155 socket on the mobo as you remove the proc. One can straighten them, but you will be sweating.... :lol: here and here.

The proc base and cooler base can be lapped to each other with any number of metal polishing methods - I start with a 2' x 2', maybe 60cm x 80cm x 5mm glass pane from a sliding window, and very fine grinding paste, ending up with a metal polish, getting a mirror finish.

I, too used an ALC cooler - for about a week - then gave it away and purchased a component-build system, which has never failed.

 

1 x Slim Triple 120mm Radiator XSPC RS360 (RS360).....................$54.99

6 x Feser Tube UV Hose 1/2"ID-3/4"OD)...........................................$8.94

1 x FrozenQ FlexTank MP Reservoir - Black Acetal (QFTR-A)......... $34.99

1 x Swiftech MCP 655-01 Pump w/ Speed Controller CP655-D501)..$77.99

1 x EK-Supreme HF Performance- Full Nickel Water Block................$89.99

6 x 1/2" ID Tubing - Barb - Matt Black (BP-MBWP-C01).....................$19.74

Sub-Total:.......................................................... $286.64

Had PC repaired (still under warranty) and now it runs just fine - no more thasn 60*C core temp at 100% load..

 

M.