How long can I leave thermal paste in the open for??

[Oathkeeper98]

So I’m doing a thermal pad mod to the 3080ti. I essentially used the wrong pads for the front side (dye side) which 2.0mm which it was hitting 85c while the hot spot was 97c while before the pads mod it was hitting 82c at most. I had already repasted it a few days ago but I wanted to do some modifications for how did the backside too but won’t be getting the 1.5 mm pads until later today. So since the thermal paste isn’t that old along with putting a plastic box on top of it will it be safe to use the same thermal paste or should I just reapply it? lol I know I should probably just reapply it but this thermal grizzle kryonot stuff is not cheap . 

[Blasty Blosty]

I would heat it up with a hairdryer or something to get it gloopy again, but I have NO IDEA IF THAT IS SAFE TAKE IT WITH A PINCH OF SALT, thats just probably what I would do to re-use it

[Oathkeeper98]

6 minutes ago, Blasty Blosty said:

I would heat it up with a hairdryer or something to get it gloopy again, but I have NO IDEA IF THAT IS SAFE TAKE IT WITH A PINCH OF SALT, thats just probably what I would do to re-use it

Like I have 1 and a half grams left but it’s the fact I spent $20 for 3 grams it feels like such a waste to use it all on the gpu because I gone goofed. I was considering to use it on my cpu but idk at this point I may just repaste the gpu cause I’d rather not have the heat hurt the gpu or or melt a solder joint or something 

[Blue4130]

1 hour ago, Oathkeeper98 said:

So I’m doing a thermal pad mod to the 3080ti. I essentially used the wrong pads for the front side (dye side) which 2.0mm which it was hitting 85c while the hot spot was 97c while before the pads mod it was hitting 82c at most. I had already repasted it a few days ago but I wanted to do some modifications for how did the backside too but won’t be getting the 1.5 mm pads until later today. So since the thermal paste isn’t that old along with putting a plastic box on top of it will it be safe to use the same thermal paste or should I just reapply it? lol I know I should probably just reapply it but this thermal grizzle kryonot stuff is not cheap . 

 

 

 

It will be good for probably 5 years in the open as long as you don't let dirt get to it and it isn't thermal cycled.

[Oathkeeper98]

10 minutes ago, Blue4130 said:

It will be good for probably 5 years in the open as long as you don't let dirt get to it and it isn't thermal cycled.

Yeah at most I’m mainly just benching it to make sure the temps are in line along with undervolting testing with a oc once it’s put back together. Hopefully that’s not a terrible amount of thermal cycling. 

[OhioYJ]

2 hours ago, Oathkeeper98 said:

 I spent $20 for 3 grams 

Still cheap compared to a GPU.

 

What if you put it together and it runs hot because you were trying to save thermal paste? Taking it apart you could mess up the thermal pads.  Do right the first time in my opinion, and replace the thermal paste. 

[Stahlmann]

Repaste it to be safe. Or better, use a Cryosheet instead. That way you will never have to repaste.

[Oathkeeper98]

21 hours ago, Stahlmann said:

Repaste it to be safe. Or better, use a Cryosheet instead. That way you will never have to repaste.

 

21 hours ago, OhioYJ said:

Still cheap compared to a GPU.

 

What if you put it together and it runs hot because you were trying to save thermal paste? Taking it apart you could mess up the thermal pads.  Do right the first time in my opinion, and replace the thermal paste. 

Both of you were right now sadly the vram runs 88-96c which I believe is in spec but the dye is SOOO much cooler now! It’s running 67c-69c on the Heaven benchmark and on the FFXIV dawntrail bench mark

 

Overall I’m impressed and hopefully this gpu will last me another 3 years cause nvidia isn’t making it easy to get a new gpu.

 

Thank you so much for the help!! 

Additional images in regards to the thermal pads lol. I tried my best to copy someone I saw on Reddit who did the same. They got better results but I ain’t gonna complain with my dye temps being that low. sadly no thermal paste pics XD