New thermal paste = Lower performance?

[VulsaviiK]

I decided to finally get around to replacing the thermal paste on my graphics cards. Long story short, got a backplate for one of my cards, was distracted while installing it accidentally partially undid one of the wrong screws.

 

I took the cards apart, cleaned off the thermal paste and re-did it with Arctic Silver 5. However, my first run through both Unigine Heaven and Valley have not been promising. I'm down to around 57fps average, down from about 82.

 

So, now what? Do I re-clean/re-seat the cards again or could there be something else causing this.

 

I've got a 4770k, stock cooling not overclocked, two EVGA GTX 770s, one Dual bios, one not. It's in a H440 with Phanteks fans.

 

Sitting around 40-50 degrees on between the two cards on idle, not going over 80 degrees under load near as I can tell

[W-L]

I decided to finally get around to replacing the thermal paste on my graphics cards. Long story short, got a backplate for one of my cards, was distracted while installing it accidentally partially undid one of the wrong screws.

 

I took the cards apart, cleaned off the thermal paste and re-did it with Arctic Silver 5. However, my first run through both Unigine Heaven and Valley have not been promising. I'm down to around 57fps average, down from about 82.

 

So, now what? Do I re-clean/re-seat the cards again or could there be something else causing this.

 

I've got a 4770k, stock cooling not overclocked, two EVGA GTX 770s, one Dual bios, one not. It's in a H440 with Phanteks fans.

 

Sitting around 40-50 degrees on between the two cards on idle, not going over 80 degrees under load near as I can tell

 

It's either the cooler isn't fully seated therefore not apply enough mounting pressure or the curing or break in period hasn't been reached yet for it's optimum performance. You've just seen and FPS drops but has thermals itself risen or changed at all from the originals before you replaced the thermal compound, from those temps you gave they seems pretty good.

[VulsaviiK]

It's either the cooler isn't fully seated therefore not apply enough mounting pressure or the curing or break in period hasn't been reached yet for it's optimum performance. You've just seen and FPS drops but has thermals itself risen or changed at all from the originals before you replaced the thermal compound, from those temps you gave they seems pretty good.

 

So, there's some sort of burn-in time on thermal paste before it does it's job properly?

 

So, should I just leave Valley running for a bit and leave it alone?

[ionbasa]

Some thermal pastes do have a break in period. Maybe wait a week or two and see what happens

[ionbasa]

Per your post, AC5 has an 200 hour break in period:http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

 

Due to the unique shape and sizes of the particles in Arctic Silver 5's conductive matrix, it will take a up to 200 hours and several thermal cycles to achieve maximum particle to particle thermal conduction and for the heatsink to CPU interface to reach maximum conductivity. (This period will be longer in a system without a fan on the heatsink or with a low speed fan on the heatsink.) On systems measuring actual internal core temperatures via the CPU's internal diode, the measured temperature will often drop 2C to 5C over this "break-in" period. This break-in will occur during the normal use of the computer as long as the computer is turned off from time to time and the interface is allowed to cool to room temperature. Once the break-in is complete, the computer can be left on if desired.

[W-L]

So, there's some sort of burn-in time on thermal paste before it does it's job properly?

 

So, should I just leave Valley running for a bit and leave it alone?

 

Umm I would say just use it normally no need to really push it but here is some info from Arctic Silver's thermal paste, takes a long time apparently  :mellow: :

 

Arctic Silver 5: 

Break-in period: 200 hours (Break-in period will occur during normal use.) 

Temps will drop several degrees over the break-in period measured with a thermal 

diode in the hottest part of the CPU core. 

 

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appmeth/int/vl/intel_app_method_vertical_line_v1.1.pdf

 

 

 

- @ionbasa Beat me to it!

[Opcode]

So, there's some sort of burn-in time on thermal paste before it does it's job properly?

 

So, should I just leave Valley running for a bit and leave it alone?

Silver based compounds tends to have a cure period while not being as conductive as other compounds on the market. For a GPU I personally would steer away from silver based compounds and go with carbon based compounds like MX-4. It has a higher thermal conductivity while also having no cure time.

[ionbasa]

Silver based compounds tends to have a cure period while not being as conductive as other compounds on the market. For a GPU I personally would steer away from silver based compounds and go with carbon based compounds like MX-4. It has a higher thermal conductivity while also having no cure time.

Another suggestion is IC Diamond, works like a dream on GPUs.

[VulsaviiK]

So I'm still confused as to how this relates to frame-rate hitching, but I just did another run through Valley and pulled 72fps average

 

Since I'm finally ordering a new cpu cooler this week, I might get some new thermal paste... again... FML

[ionbasa]

So I'm still confused as to how this relates to frame-rate hitching, but I just did another run through Valley and pulled 72fps average

 

Since I'm finally ordering a new cpu cooler this week, I might get some new thermal paste... again... FML

Monitor your GPU temps while running Valley a few times. Over the coming week, check again and see if load temps decrease slightly, if they do, it probably is the AC5 curing.

If not, I would probably replace the thermal compound on the GPUs with something better, like what @Opcode suggested, or IC Diamond (my preference).

[W-L]

 

So I'm still confused as to how this relates to frame-rate hitching, but I just did another run through Valley and pulled 72fps average

 

Since I'm finally ordering a new cpu cooler this week, I might get some new thermal paste... again... FML

 

The GPU is running hotter due to the new compound so it will potentially thermal throttle and basically tune itself down to protect itself from burning up or getting too hot, there are sometimes discrepancies between runs so it may vary slightly.

[Opcode]

So I'm still confused as to how this relates to frame-rate hitching, but I just did another run through Valley and pulled 72fps average

 

Since I'm finally ordering a new cpu cooler this week, I might get some new thermal paste... again... FML

How much compound did you put on? Keep in mind in the case of applying thermal compound, less is more. Compound only acts as a filler for uneven surfaces on and in between the heatsink and the die. If you use too much you're essentially creating a blanket between the chip and the cooler. It also could be that the compound has yet to spread on its own. So your GPU will throttle until it knows it's being cooled sufficiently. If you're sure you applied everything properly give it a day or two for the heat to work the compound down to a thin layer. Silver compound is fine for GPU's tho in my own opinion they generate a lot more heat than CPU's so it's always good to use the best conducting compound you can without breaking the bank (a tube of MX-4 is $10).

[VulsaviiK]

 or IC Diamond (my preference).

 

And also Linus', which probably should have suggested something. Quick question, what's the difference between IC Diamond 7 and IC Diamond 24 carat?

 

The GPU is running hotter due to the new compound so it will potentially thermal throttle and basically tune itself down to protect itself from burning up or getting too hot, there are sometimes discrepancies between runs so it may vary slightly.

 

Makes sense

 

*snips

 

How much would you recommend for a GTX 770? I did a small cross which is what I saw somewhere when I looked this up

[ionbasa]

And also Linus', which probably should have suggested something. Quick question, what's the difference between IC Diamond 7 and IC Diamond 24 carat?

...

Actually, didn't know it was Linus's favorite. In terms of the difference between the 7 and 24 carat, its basically the same in terms of heat transfer.

[Clyne]

And also Linus', which probably should have suggested something. Quick question, what's the difference between IC Diamond 7 and IC Diamond 24 carat?

It's basically the same thermal paste with the exception of the 24 carat having more thermal paste than the 7 carat one.

[Opcode]

And also Linus', which probably should have suggested something. Quick question, what's the difference between IC Diamond 7 and IC Diamond 24 carat?

Quantity, not quality. They are the same exact thing, except you're only paying for 7 carats vs 24 carats. If you change out compound often I would just get the bigger tube.

 

How much would you recommend for a GTX 770? I did a small cross which is what I saw somewhere when I looked this up

I would do the pea method, every time you try to do crisscrosses or make pretzels you always have the chance of air pockets. With a simple dot there is no chance of air pockets and it almost always guarantee's an even spread.

 

Le' Example

 

Keep in mind when reapplying the heatsink to keep it straight and flush so the compound spreads evenly. Also don't be scared of putting your finger on the heatsink above the where the die is and applying a little bit of pressure to force it to spread (don't go crazy running it over with the car trying to spread compound :lol:).

[VulsaviiK]

*snip

 

Thanks. I probably won't pull it apart and re-apply it, I'll just wait till I get the new paste, which should be in a couple of days anyway, again, when I get a new cpu cooler