How to remove thermal adhesive

[Larl The Croissant]

I've got a GTX 1080 FE that I modded with an Arctic Accelero Xtreme III. I have now decided to go back to the founder edition cooler and I need to remove the heatsinks that I added to the card (see attached file).

 

How do I remove the thermal adhesive? Ideally I would like the card to work after taking them off. I've looked at other online posts but there is a lot of conflicting information and some posts are more than 10 years old.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Sorenson]

You could try using a heat gun to melt the glue, but there’s no easy way to get it off. Honestly i think trying to removing the heat syncs at this point is a mistake. In the future there is thermal tape you can use that isn’t as permanent. If you don’t like the Accelero I would grab a kraken g12 and an AIO. 

[mockedarche]

17 hours ago, FleetGamer0928 said:

 

If you're selling the card and want it stock I highly suggest you try and sell it with that cooler instead of ref. You risk damaging the card regardless of the method and honestly that aftermarket cooler seems pretty good.

[butre]

don't try, you'll break it.  thermal adhesive has a high breakdown temperature (who would've thought) so just heating it is insufficient.

 

you may have luck with chemically removing the adhesive but without knowing the exact materials used I can't offer any advise on what solvent might work.

[Mick Naughty]

Good thing about that its, they were all saturated with the grease from the pads, which does effect the bond. I used vicegrips to apply pressure at the base and they would just pop off. I did the same thing on a few cards and no issues taking all of them off.

[Larl The Croissant]

On 6/30/2020 at 11:42 AM, Sorenson said:

You could try using a heat gun to melt the glue, but there’s no easy way to get it off. Honestly i think trying to removing the heat syncs at this point is a mistake. In the future there is thermal tape you can use that isn’t as permanent. If you don’t like the Accelero I would grab a kraken g12 and an AIO. 

I did like the Accelero III a lot I just wanted to switch back, lesson learned. Unfortunately I did end up killing it by pulling of a DRAM chip and a few capacitors. I got a used 1070 the same day to replace it.

[Larl The Croissant]

22 hours ago, Mick Naughty said:

Good thing about that its, they were all saturated with the grease from the pads, which does effect the bond. I used vicegrips to apply pressure at the base and they would just pop off. I did the same thing on a few cards and no issues taking all of them off.

When I first put the heatsinks on I cleaned off the grease from the chips, so they were locked on. Unfortunately I did end up killing it by getting too overconfident and pulling of a DRAM chip and a few capacitors. I got a used 1070 the same day to replace it.

[Larl The Croissant]

On 7/11/2020 at 12:55 PM, butre said:

don't try, you'll break it.  thermal adhesive has a high breakdown temperature (who would've thought) so just heating it is insufficient.

 

you may have luck with chemically removing the adhesive but without knowing the exact materials used I can't offer any advise on what solvent might work.

Indeed you're correct, but only from my overconfidence. Unfortunately I did end up killing it by getting too overconfident and pulling of a DRAM chip and a few capacitors. I got a used 1070 the same day to replace it.

[Larl The Croissant]

On 6/30/2020 at 4:08 PM, Ohsnaps said:

If you're selling the card and want it stock I highly suggest you try and sell it with that cooler instead of ref. You risk damaging the card regardless of the method and honestly that aftermarket cooler seems pretty good.

I would never sell this card XD. The backplate is signed by all of LTT and a few other YouTubers from LTX 2019.

[mockedarche]

1 hour ago, FleetGamer0928 said:

I would never sell this card XD. The backplate is signed by all of LTT and a few other YouTubers from LTX 2019.

 

1 hour ago, FleetGamer0928 said:

Indeed you're correct, but only from my overconfidence. Unfortunately I did end up killing it by getting too overconfident and pulling of a DRAM chip and a few capacitors. I got a used 1070 the same day to replace it.

Wait so you got a used 1070 to replace your 1080? I understand its a nice thing that others signed it and hold value besides just hardware but I mean even luke used his old keyboard that was signed. I suggest you try and clear coat the back plate or something and use the card.