Does the CPU require thermal compound?
Does the CPU require thermal compound?
I successfully boosted the performance of a 386 and a 65C02, yet I still have a few 386SX boards stored in an ESD box without any heatsinks. I’m not sure where the motherboards ended up.
Usually, the issue lies at the base of the air cooler heatsink or water block, especially if there’s no thermal paste applied beforehand.
The CPUs are often packaged in a plastic clamshell that offers adequate protection.