GPU: To re-apply thermal paste or to not re-apply thermal paste!

[XPI Sigma]

Hello friends.

 

So my rig includes a used (from Ebay) GTX 1070 TI, and I've been doing some thinking. The GPU was released a little over a year ago, which doesn't exactly mean much for age... but when would be a good time to re-apply thermal paste?

 

Should I even bother? Game temps run the card from 50c - 70c, but as I understand that is not horrible. 

 

[BobVonBob]

Unless you have reason to believe the thermal paste has dried out early or the cooler has been removed I wouldn't bother. Manufacturer thermal paste tends to last a fairly long time with relatively little performance degradation, especially on a card that was probably manufactured less than a year ago.

[Dedayog]

1 minute ago, XPI Sigma said:

Hello friends.

 

So my rig includes a used (from Ebay) GTX 1070 TI, and I've been doing some thinking. The GPU was released a little over a year ago, which doesn't exactly mean much for age... but when would be a good time to re-apply thermal paste?

 

Should I even bother? Game temps run the card from 50c - 70c, but as I understand that is not horrible. 

 

 Never.  No need for maintenance like that on a GPU.  Those are standard temps and just fine.

 

[LukeLinusFanFic]

Don't see any reason why you would

[XPI Sigma]

Thanks! I've seen videos about replacing burnt up thermal paste from bitcoin miner GPUs, so was just wondering. But if the temps are good than no need for me to worry!

[Turtle Rig]

I hit 68c on load but come summer time that might go higher unless I turn on AC.

[Eastman51]

I wouldn't bother replacing it until the temps get above 75C or you start overclocking and see temps get near 80C.

[Turtle Rig]

Just now, Eastman51 said:

I wouldn't bother replacing it until the temps get above 75C or you start overclocking and see temps get near 80C.

Even 80c is just fine for the GPU.  It is meant to get hot and work hot.  Same thing with CPU you can run it to 90c but above that and computer shuts down to protect the CPU.

 

[Eastman51]

Just now, Turtle Rig said:

Even 80c is just fine for the GPU.  It is meant to get hot and work hot.  Same thing with CPU you can run it to 90c but above that and computer shuts down to protect the CPU.

Yea, its totally safe; but its not ideal. 

 

[Turtle Rig]

1 minute ago, Eastman51 said:

Yea, its totally safe; but its not ideal. 

 

True eastman, but I mean hes gonna use the video card for 4 years or max 5 years, there is no degradtion.  If he wants to keep it for 10 years then ya maybe that warm temp will slowly degrade, but I even highly doubt that.  Its a toss up, no body knows the real answer to this.  I just know with the research Ive done that GPU's love to get hot and thats how they work optimally by generating heat from their components and Die.

[Mick Naughty]

I always do it for used gpus. I test it first, then again after. Even done it on some new ones. But I have time and paste to spare. 

[manikyath]

if it aint broke, dont fix it. repasting a GPU can be a lot of work, and rather messy.. (they use a LOT of paste..) so i would say dont bother.

 

to prove a point a while back i repasted my GPU, and it improved all of two degrees.. adding a casefan vaguely pointed at the GPU made a better improvement to noise and thermals than the repaste did.

 

also feel like adding.. dont just believe people posting their "insane temperature improvements" from repasting.. pretty much all of the people i see that are boasting about the greatness of repasting and have "documented their ventures", have also done a lot of dust removal in the process.. which obviously spoils the results of a "repaste" measurement.

[Turtle Rig]

Just now, Mick Naughty said:

I always do it for used gpus. I test it first, then again after. Even done it on some new ones. But I have time and paste to spare. 

That is sorta COCDish behavior no ? LOL , jk just giving you hard time Mick Naughty my friend.

[Mick Naughty]

13 minutes ago, Turtle Rig said:

That is sorta COCDish behavior no ? LOL , jk just giving you hard time Mick Naughty my friend.

You mean cdo? Kinda like ocd but the letters are in order, as they should be. 

[Wormhole]

I'd take the GPU apart, clean all the dust and replace the thermal compound with NT-H1.