GTX 970 cleaning

[Ariona]

It's been a bit since I cleaned my system and I was wondering if anyone has a cleaning tutorial for the 970 or disassemble, I also have a backplate installed will that be any issue with the VRM pads being removed? 

 

I have an EVGA ACX 1.0 970 SC with the Bonus mail order back plate special. 

 

the fans need cleaning and probably the PCB too. but I'm nervous taking a $300 GPU apart. 

 

I also plan to replace the thermal paste with some spare Arctic Silver. 

[TheKDub]

Pretty sure its just taking out a few screws then it all comes apart, be sure to disconnect the fans from the pcb so you don't damage anything.

 

There are probably thermal pads that are between the cooler and some of the stuff on the pcb, so be careful with those to remember where they go.

[Aurora906]

I would just blow it out with some canned air, and do that every so often.

[Enderman]

just use compressed air

 

if you take it apart you have to clean off the thermal paste and thermal pads, then reapply new thermal paste and buy new thermal pads that are the correct thickness to replace the ones you removed

[Techedmeoff]

When cleaning a video card I just use the air from my lungs. If I need to clean further I use those things for cleaning your ears and for some reason right now I can't remember what they are called.

Update: cue tips (with water)

 

[Ariona]

just use compressed air

 

if you take it apart you have to clean off the thermal paste and thermal pads, then reapply new thermal paste and buy new thermal pads that are the correct thickness to replace the ones you removed

in linus's cleaning video he didn't replace the pads but warned about losing them, and replaced the thermal paste. is this changed?

[blackadder]

in linus's cleaning video he didn't replace the pads but warned about losing them, and replaced the thermal paste. is this changed?

change the paste after a year or two.

[Enderman]

in linus's cleaning video he didn't replace the pads but warned about losing them, and replaced the thermal paste. is this changed?

well that depends on the condition of the pads...

if your GPU is new then its likely you will be able to reuse the pads

but sometimes they get stuck and you need to rip them off, then you need new ones