Replacing thermal pads on GPU and other tips please

[Sebastian-san]

So I decided this is a topic for a new thread as it is unrelated to my already solced thermal paste selection thread.

I will go with CM MasterGel Maker Nano definetly then. I found in another shop near me.

I have some more questions...
1.) Is it safe to use Isopropyl Alcohol for cleaning the gpu in my room at room temperature? Its a bit colder now, so my room is ~20C. Will it explode when I open it or?
2.) Is this the correct way to clean the chip?
3.) How do I know it's squeased enough but not too much?
4.) My gtx 760 looks almost exactly like this. How do I take off the VRM cooler? It looks very stiff. Is it absolutely necessary to change VRM pads after 3 years? What if I break something?
5.) What kind of pads should fit well for the VRM?

 

[Athlonite]

1.) No it wont explode unless you're sitting there with a cigarette in ya mouth or an open flame ISO's a pretty safe product
2.) Yes
3.) Monitor your temps before you do the renewal if temp are worse afterwards probably not done right
4.) So it's a reference design then if it looks to held on with two spring loaded little push pins then all you need do is squeeze the backside of it with pliers (whilst being careful) and gently pull on the push pin at the same time and it should just pop off
4a.) unless your getting very high temps compared to when the card was newer then no you don't need to change them
5.) I'd go for the IC Graphite thermal pads https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Cooling-Graphite-Thermal-Pad/dp/B07CKVW18G which according to Linus Tech tips work very very well

indeed

 

[eidairaman1]

1.) No it wont explode unless you're sitting there with a cigarette in ya mouth or an open flame ISO's a pretty safe product
2.) Yes
3.) Monitor your temps before you do the renewal if temp are worse afterwards probably not done right
4.) So it's a reference design then if it looks to held on with two spring loaded little push pins then all you need do is squeeze the backside of it with pliers (whilst being careful) and gently pull on the push pin at the same time and it should just pop off
4a.) unless your getting very high temps compared to when the card was newer then no you don't need to change them
5.) I'd go for the IC Graphite thermal pads https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Cooling-Graphite-Thermal-Pad/dp/B07CKVW18G which according to Linus Tech tips work very very well

indeed

What is interesting is that I would use akasa shinetsu pads however those were not reusable.

 

[rtwjunkie]

1) yes, using isopropyl alcohol is safe. Try to use 90% or more.
2) yes, use only enough with a cotton swab, for instance to remove the paste.
4) it is best to watch a video on YouTube for your specific GPU on how to take off the cooler. If the VRM pads don’t become separated when removing cooler, they shouldn’t need to be replaced.

 

[Sebastian-san]

Thank you everyone! I think I'm all set to do this finally. Cheers and hugs!

 

[LiveOrDie]

make sure you use the correct pads if you change the thickness of them the die wont have the correct contact with the cooler.

 

[looniam]

two quick points:

if it's the first time taking the cooler off, the factory applied TIM (thermal paste) is most times rather excessive and gets like hardened putty making the heatsink stick. a slight, gentle twist helps "break the seal"

don't be stingy with the ISO alcohol, it won't harm anything and dries quickly at room temp - blowing on it helps.

the first time, i was sweating bullets and feared i would drip on the card. anymore i almost just rip things apart - comparatively speaking.

you'll do fine.

 

[micropage7]

and don't forget, take it step by step since it's your first one you may miss something
take it easy and don't forget to recheck everything before you plug it back

 

[eidairaman1]

1) yes, using isopropyl alcohol is safe. Try to use 90% or more.
2) yes, use only enough with a cotton swab, for instance to remove the paste.
4) it is best to watch a video on YouTube for your specific GPU on how to take off the cooler. If the VRM pads don’t become separated when removing cooler, they shouldn’t need to be replaced.

70% works well.

I had some ISOP A that the flash point was 55 F

 

[Sebastian-san]

I had some ISOP A that the flash point was 55 F

Thats a really low flash point. It's exactly the flash point of the isopropyl I'm going to buy. Is such a low flash point safe at room temperature above it?

 

[eidairaman1]

Thats a really low flash point. It's exactly the flash point of the isopropyl I'm going to buy. Is such a low flash point safe at room temperature above it?

Yes, you'd need a lighter, match or cigarette/cigar and oxygen to ignite it.

I had to use the stuff on a data plate on a aircraft part to change it.

 

[John Naylor]

1. I use Indigo Xtreme Cleaner but > 90% Isoprophyl is fine
2. Ever since I saw him drill thru a MoBo to install a CPU cooler, my gag reflex keeps me from watching anything by Jayz2cents. I wipe the bulk off with a dry screen wipe. Then use Indigo and a foam swap to make it all shiny
3. For the GPU, it's important to use a TIM that has extended workability (i.e. Gelid Extreme) as you'll have many surfaces to apply to. You don't want to be in a situation whereby all the solvent has evaporated and the TIM ceases to spread properly. Use the star method on GPU. See Step 3 here for sample of GPU, VRM and Memory instructions:
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/EK-IM/EK-IM-3831109868812.pdf
4. This will vary depending on what card you have ... see above PDF as an example.
5. If you are going to thru all this work, kinda silly to get lazy at this point and not upgrade the pads. I always buy FujiPoly ... they come in various sizes, quality and thicknesses and it's critical to buy the proper thickness. Contact manufacturer for pad thicknesses. Quality choices include 6, 11 and 17 W/mK
http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l1/g8/Thermal_Interface.html?id=v3EhAX39
6. Don't forget the pads / TIM for backplate if applicable

Sample pricing:

6 W/mK = MOFSET Pack 15mm x 100mm x 1.5mm = $6.99
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...ermal_Conductivity_60_WmK.html?tl=g8c487s1289

11 W/mK = MOFSET Pack 15mm x 100mm x 1.5mm = $10.49
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...rmal_Conductivity_110_WmK.html?tl=g8c487s1289

17 W/mK = MOFSET Pack 15mm x 100mm x 1.5mm = $17.49
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...rmal_Conductivity_170_WmK.html?tl=g8c487s1289

You can of course buy whole, half or quarter sheets and cut them up yaself.

 

[MrGenius]

Linus bro. Not Jay.

5.) I'd go for the IC Graphite thermal pads https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Cooling-Graphite-Thermal-Pad/dp/B07CKVW18G which according to Linus Tech tips work very very well

No no no no. Watch the vid again. And pay attention this time.

Those pads BARELY performed as well as the IC Diamond(slightly higher temps than it actually). And that IC Diamond paste, at 4.5 W/mK, is on the lowest end of thermal performance spectrum(he even mentions that it's not a very good paste). Meaning those pads are S H I T T Y ! ! ! NO GOOD A TALL!!!

 

[Sebastian-san]

Omg! Thank you so much everyone! I'm so happy, this is every piece of advice I wished for! Now I feel at ease about doing this for the first time.

Unfortunately, the only pads available in my city are Arctic Cooling of different size. 6W/mK. Should I go for those?

 

[micropage7]

Omg! Thank you so much everyone! I'm so happy, this is every piece of advice I wished for! Now I feel at ease about doing this for the first time.

Unfortunately, the only pads available in my city are Arctic Cooling of different size. 6W/mK. Should I go for those?

how thick your pads?
some pads are elastic enough but some pads not

 

[Solaris17]

stuff

I actually always go with fujipoly myself great stuff.

 

[John Naylor]

Omg! Thank you so much everyone! I'm so happy, this is every piece of advice I wished for! Now I feel at ease about doing this for the first time.

Unfortunately, the only pads available in my city are Arctic Cooling of different size. 6W/mK. Should I go for those?

What country are you located in ? How's the postal service / on line retailer situation ?

As you can see above 6W/mK is the lowest rating you will likely to find, 11 W/mK is usually about 50% more expensive and 17 W/mK is about 2.5 times more expensive. But with all the Time and Effort involved, the cost seems immaterial. I always use the 17W/mK

 

[Athlonite]

Linus bro. Not Jay.
No no no no. Watch the vid again. And pay attention this time.

Those pads BARELY performed as well as the IC Diamond(slightly higher temps than it actually). And that IC Diamond paste, at 4.5 W/mK, is on the lowest end of thermal performance spectrum(he even mentions that it's not a very good paste). Meaning those pads are S H I T T Y ! ! ! NO GOOD A TALL!!!

Yeah the paste is crappy but the pad has a rating of 35W/mk so they're better than most pads which seem to top out at around the 17W/mk so I'd still recommend them for memory or VRM usage but I'd not use it on an CPU or GPU Die

 

[Sebastian-san]

What country are you located in ? How's the postal service / on line retailer situation ?

I'm in EU. The postal service in my country is quite expensive. Thats why I'm always buying from shops in local streets.