AS5 on VPU Question ?

[Polarman]

I will receive my new 4870 very soon.

Should i take the stock cooler off, Clean the gob of goop that they put way too much of and re-apply AS5 "Artic silver 5" on the VPU then put the cooler back on?

I assume i should see a diffrence in temps. I hope.

 

[PaulieG]

Yes, you certainly should. You will see a couple of degrees lower. Remember though, you only need like a "half rice" size blob. It would be even better if you used MX-2. since it's non-conductive.

 

[Polarman]

Will check out MX-2, I'm favoring the AS5 because that what i have on hand atm. I usually spread it with a razor blade to have an even paper thin coat.

 

[dark2099]

Will check out MX-2, I'm favoring the AS5 because that what i have on hand atm. I usually spread it with a razor blade to have an even paper thin coat.

I highly doubt you would want to do that since you would be applying it right to the die rather than a heat spreader (course if you have done it before, don't let me stop you) but I don't think scratching the die would be good.

 

[Cybrnook2002]

Whatevers Clever polarbear. I usually AS5 myself. I cant really speak for MX2, but as5 has never let me down. Weather it was on my CPU or GPU.

 

[daehxxiD]

Question:

On the official AS site they always suggest NOT to spread the paste on your own, but rather have the heatsink do the work for you? What about that? I can see the logic; even with a perfectly cleaned credit-card it seems to me that I'm not able to get it 100% conform (ie. some very fine lines still there). Wouldn't it be better to have the heatsink just "spread" it the way it needs to be spread, by applying and in case twisting it a little bit?

 

[flashstar]

Applying directly to the die works fine. Don't use the "blob in the middle" trick for dies without heat spreaders.

 

[Cybrnook2002]

Question:

On the official AS site they always suggest NOT to spread the paste on your own, but rather have the heatsink do the work for you? What about that? I can see the logic; even with a perfectly cleaned credit-card it seems to me that I'm not able to get it 100% conform (ie. some very fine lines still there). Wouldn't it be better to have the heatsink just "spread" it the way it needs to be spread, by applying and in case twisting it a little bit?

You got it! Thats a great way to do it. Just after your spread it a bit, pop it back off to make sure there is no overflow running down the sides.

 

[Polarman]

I'm curious about the temp difference before and after AS5 with same cooler. I'll report when it's done (maybe during weekend)

 

[ghost101]

Question:

On the official AS site they always suggest NOT to spread the paste on your own, but rather have the heatsink do the work for you? What about that? I can see the logic; even with a perfectly cleaned credit-card it seems to me that I'm not able to get it 100% conform (ie. some very fine lines still there). Wouldn't it be better to have the heatsink just "spread" it the way it needs to be spread, by applying and in case twisting it a little bit?

You are correct. Never spread the paste yourself. Also, be careful with as5 as it is conductive.

 

[erocker]

Wrap a plastic bag tightly around the tip of your finger, put some MX-2 on the bag (with your finger in it) and apply a thin even coat on the GPU. I've been doing it that way for years, always get great temps, and have never burnt out a card.

 

[ghost101]

Wrap a plastic bag tightly around the tip of your finger, put some MX-2 on the bag (with your finger in it) and apply a thin even coat on the GPU. I've been doing it that way for years, always get great temps, and have never burnt out a card.

Results in air bubbles. Its been shown thar letting the heatsink spread the thermal paste is the best method.

 

[Polarman]

I was trying to find my tube of AS5 (found it!) and at the same time, i came across a small bottle of Zalman ZM-STG1 still un opened from when i had my X800XT + VF900. This one has a brush thingy applicator.

I just read ZM-STG1 review here:

http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/zalmanthermalgrease/

It was a tie with AS5.

 

[panchoman]

dont forget to clean it off with isopropyl alcohol! and put a little blob in the middle and let the heatsink squash it, or use like a credit card or similair to spread it evenly.

 

[Polarman]

dont forget to clean it off with isopropyl alcohol! and put a little blob in the middle and let the heatsink squash it, or use like a credit card or similair to spread it evenly.

I use a cleaning solution for electronics from 3M that has acetone in it. Believe me, this stuff CLEANS in one shot!

 

[aCid888*]

PCConcept has OCZ Ultra 5+ in stock for $10 if you want another paste to throw into the mix and Microbytes also stock some other stuff too

 

[erocker]

Results in air bubbles. Its been shown thar letting the heatsink spread the thermal paste is the best method.

Never had the problem, done it to countless cards. Plus, I've noticed putting even the proper sized drop and letting the heatsink spread the tim on a bare gpu does cause some of it to overflow. Not really a big deal I guess, just sharing my opinion on how it's worked best for me for a long time.

 

[jbruneau]

I'm a razor blade guy myself. Thin even coat, done. Plus that way I know I applied enough, it's covering the entire surface of the IHS/Core, and I don't have any overflow!

I've been doing it that way for 10 years now, never scratched a thing, just take your time.

Learned that you almost *have* to do it that way for ceramique, as you need the thinnest coat possible for it to work properly!

Heck, I have a full tube of MX2, still in the original package. Haven't opened it yet, still polishing off some tubes of AS5 and ASCeramique.