Need a Standard Heatsink for Core i7

[Riley01]

I just purchased a new system. My system configuration includes 500 GB of internal hard disk, 28 inch Samsung monitor, Intel chipset motherboard, i7 875k processor and Antec Six Hundred Case. However after I bought the system that i7 8xx processor comes without a heat sink and a fan. I am aware about the processor fan ,but what is a heat sink and will it affect my system much if I do not have a heat sink?

[Macarenas]

Heat Sink , a metal component made either of copper or aluminum is placed on the CPU processors. A heat Sink dissipates the heat generated by the processor into the surrounding air. A CPU must contain either at least a sink or a fan. All modern Computers contain a heat sink, some heat sinks have fan along with them and are called active heat sinks while heat sinks without fan are called as passive heat sinks.

[ThoMas321]

A heat sink is placed on a square metal pad called thermal pad. Although thermal pads are more effective but those who overclock their processors prefer thermal paste. A thermal pad with good quality is a sign of a system with good thermal conductivity. Due to overheat a CPU may start melting. A heat sink absorbs the processor heat and disperses the heat all over.

[Amd Athlon]

If you had already spent this much ,I think you should have opted for a processor i7 9xx . And as far as the answer of your question regarding the compatibility of the i7 and i9 is concerned I do not think that the heat sink of the i 9 series processor would fit in the 17 socket. Teh construction of all the 3 series i,e i7,i8 and i9 is different. The pins in i9 push 1mm wider than that of i7 processor.