MSI 1660 GPU Thermal Pad replacement. Does it worth?

mclaren85 · Jun 6, 2022

Hi there,

So after a brief success on changing my GPU'S the stock thermal paste with Arctic MX-4, I've also been tempted to replace termal pads on memory chips. Since Arctic brand is well-known with a reasonable price, my first thermal pad choice would be the same brand. But here comes the first obstacle: What does the thickness of the thermal pad should be? And the second question is; have you really gained performance increase after replacing the stock pads? Don't know if it's just a rumour or fact but, It's been said that any thermal pad which has at least 6 w/mk of thermal conductivity could make miracles.

I would like to have your valuable ideas, thanks in advance.

GerKNG · Jun 6, 2022

totally not worth it on a 1660.
i'd say maybe on a 3090 but not on a card that barely gets warm.

mclaren85 · Jun 6, 2022

GerKNG said:
barely gets warm

In game it reaches up to 70C, while idling 43C.
Pretty hot isn't it?

maxx2575 · Jun 6, 2022

mclaren85 said:
In game it reaches up to 70C, while idling 43C.
Pretty hot isn't it?

no? I'd say something like 90+ degrees would be a bit hot but 70 is pretty cool.

P4-630 · Jun 6, 2022

mclaren85 said:
In game it reaches up to 70C, while idling 43C.
Pretty hot isn't it?

Depends on your ambient temp.
My 2070 Super runs at 30 degrees with 22 ambient. (just over 60 in gaming)

GerKNG · Jun 6, 2022

mclaren85 said:
In game it reaches up to 70C, while idling 43C.
Pretty hot isn't it?

completely fine.

eidairaman1 · Jun 6, 2022

Mx4 is fine on IHS, but direct Die not so much, you need to check the gap between the hsf and gpu die using a feeler gauge

mclaren85 · Jun 6, 2022

P4-630 said:
Depends on your ambient temp.

My ambient is 31C at the moment.

That being said, some suggests that in contrast to cpu application, when we should gpu apply generous amount of thermal paste . Is that correct?

P4-630 · Jun 6, 2022

mclaren85 said:
That being said, some suggests that in contrast to cpu application, when we should gpu apply generous amount of thermal paste . Is that correct?

Don't know where you got that from, too much TIM isn't making things better.

mclaren85 · Jun 7, 2022

I got this photo from techpowerup review page. So what is the thickness look like?

mclaren85 · Jun 9, 2022

I changed only the memory model's of gpu with arctic pad. The paste brand is grizzly kryanout.
Result is not great though . in 2k furmark test, it heats up to 68 c

Shrek · Jun 9, 2022

Why so much thermal paste?

birdie · Jun 9, 2022

Considering your ambient temp your GPU temperatures are perfectly fine. And knowing how expensive imported stuff in Turkey is, meddling with your GPU sounds like a recipe for trouble.

mclaren85 · Jun 9, 2022

Shrek said:
Why so much thermal paste?

Some guys claims on reddit that unlike cpu, the gpu needs abundant volume of thermal paste.

birdie said:
Considering your ambient temp your GPU temperatures are perfectly fine. And knowing how expensive imported stuff in Turkey is, meddling with your GPU sounds like a recipe for trouble.

You are right tavarish. But I have 2 gpus at the moment. The other one is msi gaming x 3070

phanbuey · Jun 9, 2022

I don't use thermal pads anymore, any miscalculation on the replacement pads and it's a problem -- k5 pro thermal paste those bad boys and you're good to go.

Also saves the stress of having to cut out new pads, make sure gpu contact is good and blah blah. just k5 pro it.

K5 PRO viscous thermal paste for thermal pad replacement 20g (Apple iMac, Sony PS4 & PS3, XBOX, Acer Aspire etc) : Electronics (amazon.com)

Valantar · Jun 9, 2022

mclaren85 said:
Some guys claims on reddit that unlike cpu, the gpu needs abundant volume of thermal paste.

That's nonsense. While gpu cooling is direct die and thus is more dependent on good paste coverage (any spot not covered can cook and kill your GPU), any competently made cooler will have sufficient contact to squeeze the paste thin - otherwise it'll overheat, as paste ultimately conducts heat far worse than metal and the goal is for the paste layer to be as thin as possible.

On the other hand, cooler mounting pressure will squeeze out the excess paste - like we see in your case! - so too much doesn't hurt either. It's just unnecessary.

eidairaman1 · Jun 10, 2022

Valantar said:
That's nonsense. While gpu cooling is direct die and thus is more dependent on good paste coverage (any spot not covered can cook and kill your GPU), any competently made cooler will have sufficient contact to squeeze the paste thin - otherwise it'll overheat, as paste ultimately conducts heat far worse than metal and the goal is for the paste layer to be as thin as possible.

On the other hand, cooler mounting pressure will squeeze out the excess paste - like we see in your case! - so too much doesn't hurt either. It's just unnecessary.

Direct heatpipes it's good to fill the voids between the pipes, mx4 is not good for gpu use.

xcescxa · Jun 10, 2022

Opening your GPU causes many problems. Expect many bluescreens or random shutoffs. Dummy

mclaren85 · Jun 10, 2022

eidairaman1 said:
Direct heatpipes it's good to fill the voids between the pipes, mx4 is not good for gpu use.

What do you suggest for gpu?

xcescxa said:
Opening your GPU causes many problems. Expect many bluescreens or random shutoffs. Dummy

Never heard about that. Are you sure

eidairaman1 · Jun 10, 2022

mclaren85 said:
What do you suggest for gpu?

Never heard about that. Are you sure

Arctic Cooling MX5, Arctic Silver, Arctic Ceramique, Cooler Master Gel, Gelid GC Extreme, or a thermal pad, faster/bigger fans or a different heatsink such as rajintek/gelid, or an aio.

System Name	MSI-MEG
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Motherboard	MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX
Cooling	AMD Wraith Prism + Thermal Grizzly
Memory	32 GB
Video Card(s)	MSI Suprim X RTX 3080
Storage	500 GB MSI Spatium nvme + 500 GB WD nvme + 2 TB Seagate HDD + 2 TB Seagate HDD
Display(s)	27" LG 144HZ 2K ULTRAGEAR
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Power Supply	Seasonic 750W 80+ Gold
Mouse	HP OMEN REACTOR
Keyboard	Corsair K68
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Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Motherboard	Gigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AX
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Memory	2x16GB G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO 6000 CL30
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio
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Keyboard	Corsair K65 RGB Mini, Razer Black Widow V3 TKL
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S

System Name	MSI-MEG
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Motherboard	MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX
Cooling	AMD Wraith Prism + Thermal Grizzly
Memory	32 GB
Video Card(s)	MSI Suprim X RTX 3080
Storage	500 GB MSI Spatium nvme + 500 GB WD nvme + 2 TB Seagate HDD + 2 TB Seagate HDD
Display(s)	27" LG 144HZ 2K ULTRAGEAR
Case	MSI MPG Velox Airflow 100P
Audio Device(s)	Altec Lansing
Power Supply	Seasonic 750W 80+ Gold
Mouse	HP OMEN REACTOR
Keyboard	Corsair K68
Software	Windows10 LTSC 64 bit

System Name	old betty (rebuilt)
Processor	Ryzen 5 3600
Motherboard	GIGABYTE AB350-GAMING 3
Cooling	AMD stock cooler
Memory	16GB 3200
Video Card(s)	GTX 1070 FE
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Power Supply	EVGA 600Watt bronze+
Mouse	SteelSeries Sensei 310
Keyboard	Corsair K55 RGB
VR HMD	HTC VIVE (og)
Software	windows 10

System Name	AlderLake / Laptop
Processor	Intel i7 12700K P-Cores @ 5Ghz / Intel i3 7100U
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master / HP 83A3 (U3E1)
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12A 2 fans + Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme + 5 case fans / Fan
Memory	32GB DDR5 Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 6000MHz CL36 / 8GB DDR4 HyperX CL13
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio / Intel HD620
Storage	Samsung 980 Pro 1TB + 970 Evo 500GB + 850 Pro 512GB + 860 Evo 1TB x2 / Samsung 256GB M.2 SSD
Display(s)	23.8" Dell S2417DG 165Hz G-Sync 1440p / 14" 1080p IPS Glossy
Case	Be quiet! Silent Base 600 - Window / HP Pavilion
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Keyboard	RAPOO E9270P Black 5GHz wireless / HP backlit
Software	Windows 11 / Windows 10
Benchmark Scores	Cinebench R23 (Single Core) 1936 @ stock Cinebench R23 (Multi Core) 23006 @ stock

MSI 1660 GPU Thermal Pad replacement. Does it worth?

mclaren85

GerKNG

mclaren85

maxx2575

P4-630

GerKNG

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

mclaren85

P4-630

mclaren85

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mclaren85

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Shrek

birdie

mclaren85

phanbuey

Valantar

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

xcescxa

mclaren85

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

System Name	PCGOD
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Processor	13700KF Undervolted @ 5.4/ 5.3, 4.8Ghz Ring
Motherboard	MSI 690-I PRO
Cooling	Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 w/ Arctic P12 Fans
Memory	64 GB DDR5 6200 MHZ CL32
Video Card(s)	RTX 4090 FE
Storage	2x 2TB WDC SN850, 1TB Samsung 960 prr
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Audio Device(s)	Yes
Power Supply	Corsair SF750
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Keyboard	RoyalAxe
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Benchmark Scores	They're pretty good, nothing crazy.

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