On the subject of CPU heatsinks (again) ...here are some interesting
figures:

Resistance factors: (lower is better)

thermal compound=0.8
thermal grease=0.9
thermal tape=2.7
air=2.9

According to these figures, tape is better than nothing - but not by much.

There is a good article that supports these numbers at:
http://heatsink-guide.com/paste.htm

> >I had a PC Power and Cooling CPU cooler for a 233MMX that started
> >making noise. The fan is vacuum packed...no screws and there is
> >nothing I can do to fix it so I called them up. They had me send
> >it to them for repair but then decided to send me a new
> >replacement . The replacement is the same as the one I sent in
> >but it has no mechanical means of securing it... just a piece of
> >tape stuck to the bottom. They say this is a thermal tape that
> >Air Locks the cooler to the CPU. This idea seems really cheap to
> >me and I am quite surprised that PC Power & Cooling is selling
> >something like this particularly in light of the fact that once
> >you use the tape you must replace it.
>
> >I don't trust this tape idea so I will probably try using cable
> >locks to secure it to the Socket 7. I can't remove the Fan so I
> >can't get a wire in there even if I had one. Anybody see or use
> >these things ?...and if so with what results.
>
> Mark:
>
> The tape is as good or better than any other method of mounting.
> The thermal coupling is designed to match that of mechanical
> coupling plus thermal compound, and tape is a lot easier to use.
> If you use mechanical means to secure the cooler, you MUST use
> thermal compound or Silpad (tm) type materials IMHO.
>
> jan lambert

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