Running tests on a machine with missing components
Running tests on a machine with missing components
You require the CPU to enable any operation. Without it, you wouldn't receive power or access the BIOS, though in certain scenarios you might be able to update the BIOS without a CPU installed.
It would only start, the CPU POST light would illuminate and the machine would shut down. You wouldn't be able to enter BIOS. The essentials required are: motherboard, CPU, RAM, power supply, and a video card for output (possibly integrated graphics).
I actually own a compatible Ryzen processor in the machine I'm using right now, but I don’t have any additional thermal paste to apply when I reinstall it... which might affect my cooling system.
Running tests for a short time without thermal paste and using just a cooler on the CPU is fine. However, reintroducing it with fresh paste or old residue isn't advisable. Purchasing a small tube of paste for a few dollars might be worthwhile if you want to check the components.
If I were you, I’d opt for a budget paste or skip it entirely for a quick test. Then you could run the Conductonaut on your existing CPU in your current PC again, or apply a better paste when you install it. Remember, Conductonaut isn’t recommended for aluminum coolers.
Based on your understanding, the AMD coolers typically use aluminum with a copper slug for vapor chambers. However, using conductonaut for quick testing isn't the best idea. The short answer is that liquid metal and aluminum can interact in a way that might damage the cooler's plate. For more details, check this guide: https://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/3362-...osion-test