When to replace thermal compound?

[GER_T4IGA]

MX-4, PK-1, PK-2, STG2, NT-H1, Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut and Kryonaut, any of those will do a fine job, not a tangible difference between them, just get whatever is the cheapest. There will be a lot left over, for example a 3.5 gram STG2 tube i have has been used at least 10 times and there is still some left. Be sure to buy isopropyl alcohol at least 70% for cleaning the old thermal paste and use a microfiber cloth or a coffee filter to clean it. Watch a couple of tutorials online, it's really not hard at all.

I have seen on tube of MX-4 in a local market for under 10€ is that ok?

[0ld_Chicken]

I have seen on tube of MX-4 in a local market for under 10€ is that ok?

i paid close to 10usd for mine. pretty sure that compares right?  Im unsure of currency's 

[tomas710]

I have seen on tube of MX-4 in a local market for under 10€ is that ok?

Totally, is high quality, non conductive, doesn't need to cure, good thickness (meaning it spreads easily), i mean, there are many thermal compounds just as good, in my case STG2 was available, but i would argue that unless you go with LN2/DICE, you won't be able to notice the difference, if it's available at a decent price for you, go for it.

[tomas710]

i paid close to 10usd for mine. pretty sure that compares right?  Im unsure of currency's 

An Euro is about 1.1 dollars

[0ld_Chicken]

An Euro is about 1.1 dollars

that is what I thought, but I get confused with the pound and euro.  

[GER_T4IGA]

i paid close to 10usd for mine. pretty sure that compares right?  Im unsure of currency's 

It does aproximately.

[GER_T4IGA]

An Euro is about 1.1 dollars

I now bought MX-4 and applied it yesterday. Damn my CPU fan was hard to reattach. GPU was super easy.

I am not sure if I have done the right thing. Linus says do not replace the thermal pads witha lot of paste. I had one that was already falling of and looking really dirty as if hit fallen on the grpound in production. It also wasn't as sticky as the others. I tried and found out the heatsink would not make contact witht he thermal paste so I ended up aplying a bit of paste to each pad but leaving all of the pads on there DESPITE the fact that the guy in the local store (a store that I really trust) said it was best to replace them with thermal compound.

Did I do the right thing?

[tomas710]

 

Replacing them with thermal compound would kill your card, it's not made for that, that pads provide enough thickness to provide contact. I know of people tho prefer to add a tiny drop of TIM before putting the pads, i don't know if you benefit from that but it does acts as a 'glue' which is very useful and it doesn't compromise performance either, simply don't know if it's necessary, but it works at least as well as using only pads, so, looks right to me