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Is it okay to use thermal paste instead of thermal pads for VRMs on a motherboard?

Fictionvl
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Is it? 

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NO NO NO NO NO. Okay enough Nos?

I'm a student currently attending the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, if you attend or around there please don't hesitate to contact me!

 

Mudkip: CPU: i5-4670k; Cooler: CM Hyper 212 Evo; Memory: 16GBs Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz; Motherboard: Gigabyte Z97X UD5H; GPU: ASUS DCUII 770 2GB @ 1254MHz; HDD: Seagate Barracude 1TB; PSU: CX750M; Case: ThermalTake A31 Chaser Thunder

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Umm. no

I am a nerd  B) Linux enthusiast. 

 

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Umm. no

 

NO NO NO NO NO. Okay enough Nos?

 

can you guys explain why? 

Early 2020 Build : Intel i7 8700k // MSI Krait Z370 // Corsair LPX 8x2 16GB // Aorus 5700 XT // NZXT H500 

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can you guys explain why? 

 

The heatsink is not supposed to sit directly on the vrms, they have some space inbetween. Thermal pads make perfect and lasting contact, thermal paste won't (unless you put way too much of it on the vrms and it will eventually just dry up and stop making contact properly with time).

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can you guys explain why? 

Thermal pads are designed to fill a gap and conduct heat, thermal paste is designed to fit into the smallest of spaces, like the tiny imperfections between a heatsink and CPU which are TOUCHING, and when you put it into a large gap (1mm is considered HUGE) it actually does not dissipate heat efficiently, and just builds it up.

When in doubt, re-format.

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Thermal pads are designed to fill a gap and conduct heat, thermal paste is designed to fit into the smallest of spaces, like the tiny imperfections between a heatsink and CPU which are TOUCHING, and when you put it into a large gap (1mm is considered HUGE) it actually does not dissipate heat efficiently, and just builds it up.

 

sadly the only thermal pads available to me are 30mmx30mmx1mm so I don't know 

can I re use thermal pads? 

Early 2020 Build : Intel i7 8700k // MSI Krait Z370 // Corsair LPX 8x2 16GB // Aorus 5700 XT // NZXT H500 

Early 2019 Build : Ryzen 2600X // Asus Tuff X470 // G.Skill Trident Z RGB 8x2 16GB // MSI RTX 2070 // NZXT H500 

Late 2017 Build : Intel i7 8700k // Asus Prime Z370-A // G.Skill Trident Z 8x2 16GB // EVGA GTX 1080 Ti  // NZXT S320 Elite 

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sadly the only thermal pads available to me are 30mmx30mmx1mm so I don't know 

can I re use thermal pads? 

thats because your supposed to cut that pad into small pieces

Thats that. If you need to get in touch chances are you can find someone that knows me that can get in touch.

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can I re use thermal pads? 

 As long as they are intact and not too dirty, then ABSOLUTELY!

When in doubt, re-format.

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 As long as they are intact and not too dirty, then ABSOLUTELY!

 

they're a tiny bit dirty, like a couple of hairs and maybe some dust is that fine? 

Early 2020 Build : Intel i7 8700k // MSI Krait Z370 // Corsair LPX 8x2 16GB // Aorus 5700 XT // NZXT H500 

Early 2019 Build : Ryzen 2600X // Asus Tuff X470 // G.Skill Trident Z RGB 8x2 16GB // MSI RTX 2070 // NZXT H500 

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they're a tiny bit dirty, like a couple of hairs and maybe some dust is that fine? 

 

From now on my suggestion to you is if you ever remove them, place them in a little baggy and keep them clean. You can either try and clean up the ones you currently have and re-use them, or take the time and cut out some new ones. Make sure you cut them to size and thickness.

I'm a student currently attending the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, if you attend or around there please don't hesitate to contact me!

 

Mudkip: CPU: i5-4670k; Cooler: CM Hyper 212 Evo; Memory: 16GBs Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz; Motherboard: Gigabyte Z97X UD5H; GPU: ASUS DCUII 770 2GB @ 1254MHz; HDD: Seagate Barracude 1TB; PSU: CX750M; Case: ThermalTake A31 Chaser Thunder

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From now on my suggestion to you is if you ever remove them, place them in a little baggy and keep them clean. You can either try and clean up the ones you currently have and re-use them, or take the time and cut out some new ones. Make sure you cut them to size and thickness.

 

only problem is I don't have any thermal pads except the ones that I had inside, one more question how long do you think thermal paste will last in there? 

Early 2020 Build : Intel i7 8700k // MSI Krait Z370 // Corsair LPX 8x2 16GB // Aorus 5700 XT // NZXT H500 

Early 2019 Build : Ryzen 2600X // Asus Tuff X470 // G.Skill Trident Z RGB 8x2 16GB // MSI RTX 2070 // NZXT H500 

Late 2017 Build : Intel i7 8700k // Asus Prime Z370-A // G.Skill Trident Z 8x2 16GB // EVGA GTX 1080 Ti  // NZXT S320 Elite 

Late 2015 Build : Intel i7 6700k // Asus Maximus VI Gene Z170 //  Corsair LPX 8x2 16GB // Gigabyte GTX 970 // Corsair Air 240

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only problem is I don't have any thermal pads except the ones that I had inside, one more question how long do you think thermal paste will last in there? 

On the gpu die? For as long as you want. Honestly, you could probably go 10 years without replacing thermal paste. Some people just want to change it / get better temps. 

I'm a student currently attending the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, if you attend or around there please don't hesitate to contact me!

 

Mudkip: CPU: i5-4670k; Cooler: CM Hyper 212 Evo; Memory: 16GBs Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz; Motherboard: Gigabyte Z97X UD5H; GPU: ASUS DCUII 770 2GB @ 1254MHz; HDD: Seagate Barracude 1TB; PSU: CX750M; Case: ThermalTake A31 Chaser Thunder

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On the gpu die? For as long as you want. Honestly, you could probably go 10 years without replacing thermal paste. Some people just want to change it / get better temps. 

 

No the motherboard VRM, not GPU lol

Early 2020 Build : Intel i7 8700k // MSI Krait Z370 // Corsair LPX 8x2 16GB // Aorus 5700 XT // NZXT H500 

Early 2019 Build : Ryzen 2600X // Asus Tuff X470 // G.Skill Trident Z RGB 8x2 16GB // MSI RTX 2070 // NZXT H500 

Late 2017 Build : Intel i7 8700k // Asus Prime Z370-A // G.Skill Trident Z 8x2 16GB // EVGA GTX 1080 Ti  // NZXT S320 Elite 

Late 2015 Build : Intel i7 6700k // Asus Maximus VI Gene Z170 //  Corsair LPX 8x2 16GB // Gigabyte GTX 970 // Corsair Air 240

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No the motherboard VRM, not GPU lol

If youre talking about thermal paste on the VRM where there should be pads instead? The paste will last longer than your VRM's will.

When in doubt, re-format.

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If youre talking about thermal paste on the VRM where there should be pads instead? The paste will last longer than your VRM's will.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

 

 

No the motherboard VRM, not GPU lol

 

First off, don't pull paste on your VRMs. Secondly, like i said earlier. They will probably last forever, pads really don't go bad.

I'm a student currently attending the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, if you attend or around there please don't hesitate to contact me!

 

Mudkip: CPU: i5-4670k; Cooler: CM Hyper 212 Evo; Memory: 16GBs Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz; Motherboard: Gigabyte Z97X UD5H; GPU: ASUS DCUII 770 2GB @ 1254MHz; HDD: Seagate Barracude 1TB; PSU: CX750M; Case: ThermalTake A31 Chaser Thunder

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HAHAHAHAHAHA.

 

 

 

First off, don't pull paste on your VRMs. Secondly, like i said earlier. They will probably last forever, pads really don't go bad.

 

Alright, I just put the pads back in after cleaning them.. I hope nothing goes wrong now.. thanks guys 

Early 2020 Build : Intel i7 8700k // MSI Krait Z370 // Corsair LPX 8x2 16GB // Aorus 5700 XT // NZXT H500 

Early 2019 Build : Ryzen 2600X // Asus Tuff X470 // G.Skill Trident Z RGB 8x2 16GB // MSI RTX 2070 // NZXT H500 

Late 2017 Build : Intel i7 8700k // Asus Prime Z370-A // G.Skill Trident Z 8x2 16GB // EVGA GTX 1080 Ti  // NZXT S320 Elite 

Late 2015 Build : Intel i7 6700k // Asus Maximus VI Gene Z170 //  Corsair LPX 8x2 16GB // Gigabyte GTX 970 // Corsair Air 240

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