Thermal pads. Thinner or Thicker Better?

[mclaren85]

So I wanted to change my chipset thermal pad and contacted to MSI and they said the original thickness is 1mm. In order to increase heat transfer, should I use 0,5 mm or 1,5 mm thermal pad? Or just use 1mm? What are your opinions?
Please see attached pictures:

 

[Colddecked]

Thinner is not always better. If the pad isn't making contact with the heatsink obviously it will cause overheating. I would just follow their specs.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yeah I'd just replace with spec's
If you want max performance get clay pads.

Fujipoly pad

 

[mclaren85]

Fujipoly pad

Yeah everybody recommends that but problem is, there is no where to find it.
I've bought thermal grizzly minus pad.

 

[Bill_Bright]

So I wanted to change my chipset thermal pad and contacted to MSI and they said the original thickness is 1mm. In order to increase heat transfer, should I use 0,5 mm or 1,5 mm thermal pad? Or just use 1mm? What are your opinions?

My opinion is to leave it alone. If you truly "need" better cooling, look at improving your case cooling. If you already tore it apart before doing your homework and having a good plan in place, then don't know what to say - but too late now!

Cooler does NOT automatically mean better. Adequate cooling, without question, is critical. But as long as the operating temps are maintained comfortably within the specified operating range, there is no reason to expect cooler temps to provide better performance, more stable operation, or greater longevity.

While you definitely want as thin as possible, Colddecked is exactly right - thinner is not always better. It is important to note that the purpose TIM (thermal interface material) whether pads or pastes, is to fill the microscopic pits and valleys in the mating surfaces of the device and its heatsink. Any excess is in the way and counterproductive to the most efficient transfer of heat - which occurs with direct metal to metal contact.

When there is the possibility of clearance issues, or uneven surfaces, pads are often used. So the pads need to be thick enough to compensate for those conditions without adding any extra height.

If the maker originally used 1mm - considering they could have just as easily gone thinner or thicker - I say you should go with 1mm too.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yeah everybody recommends that but problem is, there is no where to find it.
I've bought thermal grizzly minus pad.

Hi,
Yep I was going to say thermal grizzly has some that are supposed to be pretty good.

 

[eidairaman1]

So I wanted to change my chipset thermal pad and contacted to MSI and they said the original thickness is 1mm. In order to increase heat transfer, should I use 0,5 mm or 1,5 mm thermal pad? Or just use 1mm? What are your opinions?
Please see attached pictures:

Get a feeler gauge and measure the gap between the ic and the heatsink, too thick gives higher thermal resistance and potential warping of the board or cracking the IC/traces.

GET THE CORRECT PAD

Use a 1.0 mm pad or 1.1mm pad, nothing over that.

 

[lexluthermiester]

So I wanted to change my chipset thermal pad and contacted to MSI and they said the original thickness is 1mm. In order to increase heat transfer, should I use 0,5 mm or 1,5 mm thermal pad? Or just use 1mm? What are your opinions?
Please see attached pictures:

Thinner.. but enough to fill any gaps.

 

[eidairaman1]

Use a higher quality 1.0mm or 1.1mm pad, look at thermal conductivity values, do your homework.

 

[MachineLearning]

There's a great thread answering this already, you might've missed it

x570s Chipset Cooling. Any Ideas?

Hello everyone! Since the newest variant of x570 chipsets have fanless design, they can be real hot in this summer conditions. In the 25C room condition, the chipset runs at 60-65 degree Celcius. In order to increase the life expectancy of my motherboard, I decided to take apart the chipset and...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[mclaren85]

1mm works better. thanks everyone!

 

[R-T-B]

There's a great thread answering this already, you might've missed it

x570s Chipset Cooling. Any Ideas?

Hello everyone! Since the newest variant of x570 chipsets have fanless design, they can be real hot in this summer conditions. In the 25C room condition, the chipset runs at 60-65 degree Celcius. In order to increase the life expectancy of my motherboard, I decided to take apart the chipset and...

www.techpowerup.com

lol he started it.

 

[MachineLearning]

lol he started it.

Yeah, I was being sarcastic since OP wanted to ask the same question again.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Always the right size, and for me now, always thermal grizzly ones, they don't seem to dry out as quickly.

 

[Edwired]

Any thermal pads would do the job regarding sizes and thickness. Only thing to point out there is better thermal pads that contains metal for better heat transfer but it not for the average consumer

 

[erocker]

Some pads are harder than others. If you use a thicker harder pad than what was on there, you're going to have mounting/pressure issues elsewhere. You generally want the same thickness as the card was designed for.

 

[Edwired]

I have used squishable thermal pads that came from the asus p6x58d-e that is used in the evga gtx 1060 6gb sc single fan model that covers the entire vrm section including memory chips. So it fit like a glove and no mounting/pressure issues so far a month gone by with no ill effect even the temp is cooler on the pcb

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

I have used squishable thermal pads that came from the asus p6x58d-e that is used in the evga gtx 1060 6gb sc single fan model that covers the entire vrm section including memory chips. So it fit like a glove and no mounting/pressure issues so far a month gone by with no ill effect even the temp is cooler on the pcb

You, got lucky they squished enough, in general that's going to end up lifting the cold plate off the GPU, it's happened to a fair few who came here to fix it.
Right width is best.

 

[mclaren85]

You, got lucky they squished enough, in general that's going to end up lifting the cold plate off the GPU, it's happened to a fair few who came here to fix it.
Right width is best.

Because of too much pressure?

 

[ThrashZone]

Because of too much pressure?

Hi,
Really not enough pressure for the die to make contact with the cooler thus gpu temps are very high so opposite effect than originally trying to accomplish

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Because of too much pressure?

Think about it, if it was designed to have a 1mm gap and you put 2mm in it if it doesn't squished it lifts the cold plate off your GPU die OR drastically reduced pressure.
I also have misplaced 1mm and 0.5mm before and seen for myself.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Think about it, if it was designed to have a 1mm gap and you put 2mm in it if it doesn't squished it lifts the cold plate off your GPU die OR drastically reduced pressure.

Contrariwise, if it's designed with a 1mm gap and one puts in a 1.1mm pad, it will not be a problem. Good thermal pads have a certain amount of "give" designed into them.

 

[Edwired]

Some thermal pads are compressible meaning it fills in the whole area of different height components and gives stability than using a harder thermal pads on the pcb leading to a bow in the board when tighting down the cold plate is not ideal

 

[lexluthermiester]

Some thermal pads are compressible meaning it fills in the whole area of different height components and gives stability

Most pads these days are like that. It's actually very rare to see companies use the old hard type pads. Most are a soft or even "squishy" type. Some are reusable, some are not and require replacement which, I think, is the motivation behind the OP seeking help. They want to do the job right and it seems there has been a lot of solid input and advise given in this thread.

 

[Edwired]

Most pads these days are like that. It's actually very rare to see companies use the old hard type pads. Most are a soft or even "squishy" type. Some are reusable, some are not and require replacement which, I think, is the motivation behind the OP seeking help. They want to do the job right and it seems there has been a lot of solid input and advise given in this thread.

Well said Lexluthermiester