How thick a self-adhesive thermal tape should be?

[lZKoce]

Hi all,

it may be a dumb question, but I cannot make a decision. I want to put a heatspreader on my RAM. In order to do so, I need to stick it with thermally conductive double sided self-adhesive tape. I don't have the original tape from the manufacturer and when I try to search on Ebay....there are a lot of thicknesses : 0.5mm , 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm and I have no idea what is the right size? Am I overthinking it ? Is there a difference in application - whether you install on GPU memory chip or regular RAM ? If someone has experience please share. ( a link to example product also works ) .

 

[Ferrum Master]

Take them all.

If it's thin it wont fill the gaps, if too thick it will bend the board.

 

[95Viper]

You need it as thick as required to fill any gap between the heatsink and module.

Also, you need to decide if you need permanent or removable.
If there is no gap between the module and the heatsink and want it permanent... you may want to consider a liquid (2 part) thermally conductive adhesive.

You can also go with the clip on memory heat spreaders and use regular thermal paste.

 

[Bill_Bright]

2mm seems very thick to me. And does it really need to be adhesive? Doesn't the spreader snap in place over the RAM sticks, or use a clamp then held in place by friction?

Is there a difference in application - whether you install on GPU memory chip or regular RAM ?

When I think of a heat "spreader", I think of these. They just snap in place, or use a clamp.

When I think of GPU memory (and often chipset IC) cooling devices, I think of traditional "finned" type heat sinks like these that do require some form of adhesive TIM (thermal interface material).

What are you using?

It should be noted the best (most efficient) transfer of heat occurs with direct contact between the two mating surfaces. The purpose of TIM is simply to fill the microscopic pits and valleys in the mating surfaces that might trap insulating air. Too much TIM actually gets in the way of the most effective transfer of heat.

So if a "spreader" and not a traditional finned heatsink, I would pre-attach the heatspreader with no tape or TIM first and see how snug it is. If snug and you still want to use tape, get the thinnest tape possible, or use a liquid based TIM. If loose, get thicker tape to fill the gaps.

Are there any instructions with the spreader?

 

[peche]

i use 1.0mm, also my memory has a spreader kit, the 0.5mm are way to slim and tend to break easily when you just move the ram like when cleaning the rig, so the 1.0mm its the best deal if spreaders are slim and flat enough,
i use to peel one side first and attach it to ram first, then apply some pressure on it to stamp the shape of all the irregular parts of the dimm, then attach the other side of the ram the same, when both sides of dimm are ready you can move on and peel the other side and attach the spreaders, not all of them come with tension or retention clips,

dont use any liquid or paste thermal glue, cuz you dont know how it will ends, with take you take out and start again if the results werent as desired, if you paste it you may loose the heat spreader cuz will get bonded with ram, and if a ram module or dimm dies in the future you will end getting yourself a new kit for the replacing ram...... just my two cents

Regards,

 

[lZKoce]

[QUOTE="Bill_Bright, post: 3676730, member: 28661"

What are you using?

Are there any instructions with the spreader?[/QUOTE]

It's Artcic RC , basically two separate aluminum plates. No clamps, no screws. Only thing that holds them is the sticky tape I have ordered 1mm small amount of thermal tape to see how it goes. Thank you for the advice, I have taken a note.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Keep us posted.

 

[Grings]

I would say 1mm is probably best

In the case of ram you are allowing for the differences in height of each of the 8 chips (per side), as ram is so precision manufactured the differences are usually tiny

on older motherboards the vrm's sometimes had a big enough variation in heights that you sometimes needed thicker ones (and people would often recommend against using thermal paste on these)

 

[peche]

It's Artcic RC , basically two separate aluminum plates. No clamps, no screws. Only thing that holds them is the sticky tape I have ordered 1mm small amount of thermal tape to see how it goes. Thank you for the advice, I have taken a note.

if your spreaders does not come with clamps of screws you might be sure to use quality tape!
also found a matching kit,
Arctic RC modules: they come with pre-applied tape, so the ones you have might have the tape or has been removed....

Regards,