GTX 970 higher idle temps after re applying thermal paste.

[stoggs1]

Hey guys.

I took apart my 970, cleaned off the cooler and fans and replaced the stock paste with some arctic silver 5 and after I done this I noticed my idle temps are a bit higher than before.

Before I cleaned my 970 and re did the paste I was idling between 30 and 35 c and now it sits right at 40 c.

Should I be concerned? I know AS5 has a curing period but I figured I would see the same or slightly better results especially since the original paste was looking pretty crusty.

I applied a thin layer directly on the die now there was a small amount of the old paste on the pcb around the die I couldn't remove but it was there before I took the gpu apart so I figured it wasn't hurting anything.

This is my 970.
https://www.google.com/search?q=msi..._AUIEigC&biw=360&bih=518#imgrc=2Lg7xXpGJEi8cM:

 

[erocker]

The stuff they use on it is probably better than AS5 at this point. AS5 is a lot more solid than other pastes so uneven mounting can occur as well... and of course the break-in period like you said. I would suggest getting a tube of newer paste like MX4, it just works better/faster, spreads nicely etc.

 

[eidairaman1]

As5 has a bake in time.

 

[jboydgolfer]

My guess would be that you did something wrong ( if your idle temps were significantly lower before the cleaning). I've used arctic silver a thousand times ,and I had temperatures under 35°C at idle. Of course your ambient makes a difference ,but my guess would be something went wrong , re-do it.

 

[Mussels]

try it again, you might have used too much, too little, or just left a small air pocket.

even after doing this stuff for decades, i still screw up the amounts sometimes

 

[stoggs1]

An update, even though my idle temps are a little bit higher, my load temps have dropped by a few degrees. Before I repasted my 970 i would sit between 60 and 70 when gaming. I just played some gears of war ultimate for a little over an hour and my highest temp was 61c and average temps sat around 55c.

I will keep an eye on it and if it gets worse I will re paste it.

Thanks guys you are always very helpful and thats why I love these forums.

 

[HarvesterOfSorrow]

It's all good as long as load temps are fine.

 

[peche]

An update, even though my idle temps are a little bit higher, my load temps have dropped by a few degrees. Before I repasted my 970 i would sit between 60 and 70 when gaming. I just played some gears of war ultimate for a little over an hour and my highest temp was 61c and average temps sat around 55c.

I will keep an eye on it and if it gets worse I will re paste it.

Thanks guys you are always very helpful and thats why I love these forums.

try to do a test with something like valley bench, too see temps, run some benches with different presets, compare temps, arctic silver 5 have a 200Hours break-in period, this means that you might end getting a max difference of 5C over final temps,

how did you replaced tim? which method used?



Regards,

 

[fullinfusion]

@stoggs1 when I clicked on your link for the picture of your card I had to LOL.. I was thinking the whole time I was reading your thread that your issue reminds me of an issue I was having on my MSI 290x cards. I too got higher idle temperatures after changing the Krusty paste from the factory. It took a lot of research and digging around to find out exactly what thermal paste MSI uses.

MSI use a wax based thermal paste and the only way to get the temperatures down is the use a citrus-based cleaner like arcticlean two-part cleaner. That stuff will actually dissolve and lift the wax that's trapped within the microscopic parts of the cooler itself.

I already know some are going to say to just use isopropyl alcohol and that's fine for a non MSI card.. if you're able to find that 2 part cleaner I suggested, get it and keep it in Your Arsenal

As for AS5 it's not really the best paste to use anymore.. you'll have better luck using either mx4, GC extreme and for a few dollars more I would grab a tube of the best stuff around Beit thermal grizzly kryonaut.. that paste keeps my vega cards nice and cool vs the stock paste. It's a night-and-day difference if the surface is prepped properly and you use a good thermal compound. Good luck

 

[stoggs1]

I completely cleaned off the cooler and die using electronics wipes dipped in alcohol. I used a can of compressed air to blow the dust out of the cooler.

I used the spread method to apply a thin even layer of paste on the gpu die. Also as5 is the only paste I have at the moment and I'm kind of broke at the moment that's why I used it and I've been using it for years and it has never let me down.

I am not opposed to trying other paste though next time I will grab something newer.

I will run some other benchmarks over the weekend when I have some more free time but like I said my normal temps before re pasting when running games would often be between 60 and 70 c and last night it was staying between 50 and 60c and the highest it got was 61c I played. I was also running mild over clock about 90 mghz on the gpu and 100 on the memory.

I will do some more testing I will probably just wind up re pasting it.

And fullillision if I can't get a hold of a citrus based cleaner what would an alternative I could grab at say Wal-mart or the dollar store? There aren't any computer shops close to me.

 

[peche]

And fullillision if I can't get a hold of a citrus based cleaner what would an alternative I could grab at say Wal-mart or the dollar store? There aren't any computer shops close to me.

try to use something that disolves grease, such as degresear, leave some drops at bare die and cooler, let them rest for some minutes, then use alcohol or whatever you've used previously to clean the card, artic clean is like $15 dollars almost everywhere,

I used the spread method to apply a thin even layer of paste on the gpu die. Also as5 is the only paste I have at the moment and I'm kind of broke at the moment that's why I used it and I've been using it for years and it has never let me down.

i truly recommend you to use bean size method, is better to leave cooler itself to apply tim when mounting it, also AS claim that "tinting" the cooler base might reduce burn in period,

I am not opposed to trying other paste though next time I will grab something newer.

I will run some other benchmarks over the weekend when I have some more free time but like I said my normal temps before re pasting when running games would often be between 60 and 70 c and last night it was staying between 50 and 60c and the highest it got was 61c I played. I was also running mild over clock about 90 mghz on the gpu and 100 on the memory.

I will do some more testing I will probably just wind up re pasting it.

try to test the card, abuse it, oc it and run benches, maybe the card just needs a break in period for the paste to work as desired, also that thermalpaste is a decent solution, the point is that break in period, electronically conductive and some other facts about are the main reasons why most people like Arctic mx 4 or Thermal grizzly solutions.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I completely cleaned off the cooler and die using electronics wipes dipped in alcohol. I used a can of compressed air to blow the dust out of the cooler.

I used the spread method to apply a thin even layer of paste on the gpu die. Also as5 is the only paste I have at the moment and I'm kind of broke at the moment that's why I used it and I've been using it for years and it has never let me down.

I am not opposed to trying other paste though next time I will grab something newer.

I will run some other benchmarks over the weekend when I have some more free time but like I said my normal temps before re pasting when running games would often be between 60 and 70 c and last night it was staying between 50 and 60c and the highest it got was 61c I played. I was also running mild over clock about 90 mghz on the gpu and 100 on the memory.

I will do some more testing I will probably just wind up re pasting it.

And fullillision if I can't get a hold of a citrus based cleaner what would an alternative I could grab at say Wal-mart or the dollar store? There aren't any computer shops close to me.

If your load temps running the same games at the same settings in the same scenes are lower now, then IMHO, you have nothing to worry about.

As AS5 cures more, you should even see some slight change improvement in idle temps too. They are not what you should concentrate on though.

 

[fullinfusion]

I completely cleaned off the cooler and die using electronics wipes dipped in alcohol. I used a can of compressed air to blow the dust out of the cooler.

I used the spread method to apply a thin even layer of paste on the gpu die. Also as5 is the only paste I have at the moment and I'm kind of broke at the moment that's why I used it and I've been using it for years and it has never let me down.

I am not opposed to trying other paste though next time I will grab something newer.

I will run some other benchmarks over the weekend when I have some more free time but like I said my normal temps before re pasting when running games would often be between 60 and 70 c and last night it was staying between 50 and 60c and the highest it got was 61c I played. I was also running mild over clock about 90 mghz on the gpu and 100 on the memory.

I will do some more testing I will probably just wind up re pasting it.

And fullillision if I can't get a hold of a citrus based cleaner what would an alternative I could grab at say Wal-mart or the dollar store? There aren't any computer shops close to me.

Yeah go to the grocery store and buy a lemon.. put a few drops on the surface and spread it around and let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe it off, then apply some isopropyl alcohol and then again had a couple drops of lemon and let it sit for a couple more minutes. You will feel there will be a lot more resistance with whatever cloth, cotton or wherever you've been using to wipe the lemon off and if you start feeling that resistance then you know it's doing its job. But be sure at the end to use isopropyl alcohol as the final cleaning agent.

Edit: only apply to the cooler and not the chip ok.

 

[John Naylor]

1. I use Indigo Extreme Cleaner and find it worth the investment. It's only a tiny bottle when a quart of 90% isoprophylu will cost less but the alcohol always disappears around the house while this fits in my PC toolbox. Here's the sales pitch:

Now you can buy the same high-strength surface cleaning formula used by professional thermal engineers. Indigo Xtreme Clean™ works better than other products. It possesses higher solvating power than isopropyl alcohol and emulsifying cleaners, yet leaves no residue. Unlike acetone, xylene, and toluene, Indigo Xtreme Clean is non-flammable and is safe for most surfaces...

When you want top thermal performance, you don't need lemons or fresh scents. You need a robust surface cleaner as good as your thermal interface. That's Indigo Xtreme Clean. Get the edge professional thermal engineers rely on. Get Indigo Xtreme Clean.

Yeah a bit flowery but it is the best stuff I have ever used.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...ive_Thermal_Surface_Cleaner_-_30mL_XC-01.html

2. I don't use AS5 because of a) the 7 week burnin period (@ 30 hours per week) and b) it's 'capacitive' so always figure there's a chnace of getting some on contacts. Shin Etsu matches its thermal properties but had very short burn in and is not capacitive ... it's also half the price. Grizzly's Kryonaut is a few tenths of a degree betetr but Shin Etsu is $3 and grixxly $20 ... and hard to find. On GPUs however, I use Gelid Extreme .. it remains pliable for a longer period of time and by the time ya get it on the GPU, memory chips and VRMs, other formulations get kinda tacky.

3. One step I also undertake is a burn in period. I don't use p95 for stability testing as it is way to much load and results in unnecessarily low OCs but it does come in handy for curing thermal paste. I slow down the pump, turn off the rad fans and quickly ramp it up to 85+ and back down to room temp. After 5 or so cycles, its "well baked" . For GPUs I do something similar with Furmark and reducing case air flow.... get the temps up over 80C and then let return to room temp. Without this procedure, I have seen temps improve over time by 5C (As5 tho) or more. By doing this ... its rare to see more than 1C over time.

4. Also, if the cooler uses thermal pads on memory or VRMs, make sure to replace with new pads of the same or better quality (Fujipoly) ... I'm not talking the crazy stuff but if ya don't need a lot, the stuff is way better than stock material. And yes, thin spread or TIM on both sides... why TIM w/ thermal pad ? cause the water block manufacturers say so

EKWB recommends using small drops of electrically non-conductive (for example: EK -TIM Ectotherm, or GELID GC -Extreme™) thermal grease on each phase regulator (that is being covered with thermal pad).

 

[stoggs1]

Quick update I monitored the idle temps while browsing chrome for an hour.

With a 30 percent fan curve my idle temps are sitting at 33c so it seems to be doing better. I also turned off the fans for about 5 minutes and it sat around 36c so not to bad.

I will continue to keep an eye on it and if gets worse I will re clean it with the method you guys suggested and report back.

Thank you.

 

[fullinfusion]

Quick update I monitored the idle temps while browsing chrome for an hour.

With a 30 percent fan curve my idle temps are sitting at 33c so it seems to be doing better. I also turned off the fans for about 5 minutes and it sat around 36c so not to bad.

I will continue to keep an eye on it and if gets worse I will re clean it with the method you guys suggested and report back.

Thank you.

Good to hear, Both my Vega's at idle is 18c and the room temp is 18c... But I do want to stress this,... MSI does use a wax based paste and it fills in those tiny micro pores and stops another paste from entering to fill the gap. This is by far the best remover and prep on the market, It has been for years and our very own W1zzard also trusts and uses it for his gpu reviews... well after his testing he use's it..

https://www.amazon.ca/ArctiClean-60ml-Kit-30ml/dp/B0007TOR08

 

[Mussels]

Good to hear, Both my Vega's at idle is 18c and the room temp is 18c... But I do want to stress this,... MSI does use a wax based paste and it fills in those tiny micro pores and stops another paste from entering to fill the gap. This is by far the best remover and prep on the market, It has been for years and our very own W1zzard also trusts and uses it for his gpu reviews... well after his testing he use's it..

https://www.amazon.ca/ArctiClean-60ml-Kit-30ml/dp/B0007TOR08

w1zz even taste tested the stuff, and i've still got bottles lying around from those days for the hard to remove paste jobs

 

[eidairaman1]

try it again, you might have used too much, too little, or just left a small air pocket.

even after doing this stuff for decades, i still screw up the amounts sometimes

Ive been paranoid before about it, I reapplied MX4 3 times and it showed the same exact temp delta each time

 

[fullinfusion]

w1zz even taste tested the stuff, and i've still got bottles lying around from those days for the hard to remove paste jobs

It's the cat's ass as they would say hum

it turns the shit into liguid

Ive been paranoid before about it, I reapplied MX4 3 times and it showed the same exact temp delta each time

because of the wax filler bro... you know, I tested the crap outta a bunch of pastes and it come down to one?

T G Paste... I don't care someone is using a 7.6MK blah ( to Grizzly @ 12.7MK/W... and it defiantly shows at high clock and temps... 8-10c cooler vs another Ceramic paste the just spreads well. Works good, but otherwise NOPe! either use Noctua ceramic, or for a 1/4 better cooling use T Grizzly Kryonaught paste

Seriously spend the extra cash and see the difference. You wont regret it

 

[eidairaman1]

It's the cat's ass as they would say hum

it turns the shit into liguid


because of the wax filler bro... you know, I tested the crap outta a bunch of pastes and it come down to one?

T G Paste... I don't care someone is using a 7.6MK blah ( to Grizzly @ 12.7MK/W... and it defiantly shows at high clock and temps... 8-10c cooler vs another Ceramic paste the just spreads well. Works good, but otherwise NOPe! either use Noctua ceramic, or for a 1/4 better cooling use T Grizzly Kryonaught paste

Seriously spend the extra cash and see the difference. You wont regret it

Havent changed it in almost 4 years now, been fine lol

 

[peche]

because of the wax filler bro... you know, I tested the crap outta a bunch of pastes and it come down to one?

did ya tried Arctic mx 4? cus if yes i still dont understand why to pay premium for thermal grizzly overpriced products when their high end performs like 5c lower compared to MX4, paying almost twice or even moar for less quantity, makes zero sense for me, with the same ...

Thermal Grizzly kryonaut: $15-20 per 1G or so, less than 4Gr which is the most common presentation of several other solutions,

Arctic Cooling MX4: $7 4gr tube, like $18-22 20Gr big ass tube,

Gelid extreme: $12-20 4Gr tube, $25-35 10-15Gr flask, still decent for the amount,

Since most thermal pastes wont expire or go bad over the time, i like to have stock all the time, i have a 20G tube of mx4 from more than 3 years, performs like the 1st day, i have repasted CPU / GPU in my personal computers several times, and also customers for computers repairs and maintenance, also have another alternatives such as arctic silver 5(is the most common or well known paste in this country), coolermaster icefusion and nano gel,

Regards,

 

[rtwjunkie]

Quick update I monitored the idle temps while browsing chrome for an hour.

With a 30 percent fan curve my idle temps are sitting at 33c so it seems to be doing better. I also turned off the fans for about 5 minutes and it sat around 36c so not to bad.

I will continue to keep an eye on it and if gets worse I will re clean it with the method you guys suggested and report back.

Thank you.

Sounds good! Nothing wrong with 30% fan speed and 33C idle. Depending on your room’s ambient temperature, that is well within normal numbers.

Coupled with your new load temps you reported, it sounds like you are fine.

 

[fullinfusion]

@eidairaman1 I mean the bottles of cleaner turn the hard paste into shit, like melts it lol..

@peche yes I have MX4 and actually like it but its not the best for me.. I understand totally and agree on price but I got the a Tube off Amazon for $23 dollars and its a large 11.1 gram tube with the cool little applicator to spread the paste with ease..

 

[rankup]

The rule of thumb when repasting is a dab slightly larger than a grain of rice. You dont need much to provide the contact you need. A simple way to spread the paste is with the end of a business card or a thin piece of cardboard. If you put too much then temps can increase.

 

[eidairaman1]

The rule of thumb when repasting is a dab slightly larger than a grain of rice. You dont need much to provide the contact you need. A simple way to spread the paste is with the end of a business card or a thin piece of cardboard. If you put too much then temps can increase.

Keep a credit card around