Whiffen said:
Good operating temperatures would be anywhere from <49 Celsius but if your going over 40 you might want to find something to cool it down. 50-65 Is getting a bit warm and might start to pose a risk. Over 66 you should probably start thinking about a new cooling solution, thermal paste probably won't do you to much.
You have to realise different makes have different operating temps. The Pentium Ds are notorious for running pretty hot (and thus, higher normal operating temps). Same goes with some Pentium 4s (Prescotts anyone?)
Whiffen said:
Make sure you can trust your temperature monitor as well, some can give bogus temperatures.
You nailed it there. On board temperature monitoring isn't accurate at all. There was a test somewhere (if anyone would be bothered checking really old threads) where the temperature can differ more than 10C from the actual temperature (measured with a seperate, calibrated, probe). And the temperature changes aren't accurate neither (can't remember what thats called).
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Anyway, just wanted to point that out.
About that link:
Thats actually the wrong place to put the thermal grease, so don't even think of a BB sized thing anywhere near there.
Besides, the guy could be laying di-electric grease (however you spell that). You'd need that kinda amount if you were doing that. Wrong color for that I think.
Less is more when it comes to thermal grease. But too little isn't good neither, and the only way to know if you've got the right amount is to apply what you think is the right amount, fully complete the installation, take it off, and check how much it has spread from where you originally put it. repeat until you've found out how much you really need.
It'll be somewhere between half a grain of rice, and a BB.
Although I personally did that, I think that its too much of a hassle for anyone other than enthusiasts (the gains aren't that great neither).