"Loose" VRAM thermalpad. Should I be worried?

[gojira]

So I bought a 280x from someone, and a thermalpad is kinda sticking out like a swelled thumb. Part of it is under the card, another part is not, as you can tell. Should I be concerned about this damaging the card memory or nay? 

 

[don_svetlio]

If you have no experience in disassembling GPUs don't touch it - only if it's a problem. It shouldn't be theoretically.

[Bogica]

I've had loose thermalpads before, nothing really happened. They get loose eventually from all the dust and air circulation. Most cards after being in use for a while will have loose thermalpads. Not sure about the 280x though.

[don_svetlio]

I've had loose thermalpads before, nothing really happened. They get loose eventually from all the dust and air circulation. Most cards after being in use for a while will have loose thermalpads. Not sure about the 280x though.

mine doesn't even have thermalpads

[Bogica]

mine doesn't even have thermalpads

Yeah, thermalpads are relatively "new". Older high end GPUs didn't have them, the airflow from the ventilators was enough to cool them. However, overclockers used to order them and stick them on the GPU, there were some pretty badass designs!

Anyway, from my personal experience, they are good to have, but no big deal if you don't. I was just wondering if it was a must for a 280, but considering the 280 and 280x run the same memory clock, obviously it's safe.

[don_svetlio]

Yeah, thermalpads are relatively "new". Older high end GPUs didn't have them, the airflow from the ventilators was enough to cool them. However, overclockers used to order them and stick them on the GPU, there were some pretty badass designs!

Anyway, from my personal experience, they are good to have, but no big deal if you don't. I was just wondering if it was a must for a 280, but considering the 280 and 280x run the same memory clock, obviously it's safe.

As long as he's not overvolting the memory it's fine. Even then it's likely fine. Memory doesn't need cooling usually - much like how RAM doesn't need much cooling. It runs very low voltages and thus doesn't get warm.