Thermal Paste

[My Name Is Daryl :D]

Hey guys, firstly thanks for visiting this thread.

I intend to clean my r7950 thermal paste. I already have a mx-4 however , the only problem now is to clean the gpu thermal paste. I have with me an alcohol swab that is used to clean the skin like before an injection and it is 70% isopropyl alcohol. is it safe to use it to clean the paste?

[ixi_your_face]

As long as there isn't an electrical current going through the board, and you make sure all of the alcohol has evaporated prior to turning on, it should be.

[Wats]

I've done this many times. 90%+ is really what you want, just use very little with your cotton swabs. Unlike CPUs, make sure you spread out the paste before you re-apply the cooler.

Nice call with the MX-4.

[My Name Is Daryl :D]

As long as there isn't an electrical current going through the board, and you make sure all of the alcohol has evaporated prior to turning on, it should be.

Ok thanks :D

[My Name Is Daryl :D]

I've done this many times. 90%+ is really what you want, just use very little with your cotton swabs. Unlike CPUs, make sure you spread out the paste before you re-apply the cooler.

Nice call with the MX-4.

But alot of people in other forum suggest to make a pea sized in the middle of the gpu. Does that work as well?

[ixi_your_face]

I'm pretty sure a pea sized dollop on some of the GPU parts (remember there's more than one place to apply thermal paste on a GPU board) would more than likely cause a short, not to mention you'd go through so much damn paste. Try adding something more like a large raindrop, large enough to be able to put a thin layer of paste between it and the heat sink but small enough not to leak out the sides.

[My Name Is Daryl :D]

So the main objective here is to try and get it to cover most of the gpu and at the same time not leak out the side?

[ixi_your_face]

I don't profess to be an expert, but yes. Just so long as you make sure to cover all the necessarily chips, i'd reccommend looking at your heat sink and plotting out all the contact points with chips and putting some on those, just make sure not to fry your board :)

[Wats]

So the main objective here is to try and get it to cover most of the gpu and at the same time not leak out the side?

Yes cover the Die with your finger wrapped in plastic. It's ok if some spills over the edge, as long as it isn't a whole tube. Besides, it's MX-4, isn't going to short anything anyway you do it.

[My Name Is Daryl :D]

Thanks to the both of but I have only last question, I've heard that some gpu have to apply thermal paste at more then 1 area other then gpu like vram but i've never seen such gpu so is that true?

[ixi_your_face]

Yes, on my old GTS 450 i had to apply thermal paste to around 9 different points, that's why i suggest mapping out all the contact points prior to adding the paste, when i bought a new heat sink for my GPU after the reference one failed on me

[Wats]

Thanks to the both of but I have only last question, I've heard that some gpu have to apply thermal paste at more then 1 area other then gpu like vram but i've never seen such gpu so is that true?

Oh noo, Don't move or touch the little thermal pads on the Vram.

Just use the directions above and you'll be fine. Don't think you're going to get amazing temps, the stock gunk they use in China is actually fine.

[My Name Is Daryl :D]

Ok thanks alot :D I really appreciate it since its my first time doing this kind of stuff hope all goes well!

[Chunk Of Norris]

What would be better for cleaning thermal paste, whisky or the stuff you use to clean windows, mirrors and aluminium and steel surfaces?

[Wats]

What would be better for cleaning thermal paste, whisky or the stuff you use to clean windows, mirrors and aluminium and steel surfaces?

Uhh.. Whisky would be better than Windex. No Windex. No! Don't use Windex for cleaning off thermal paste!

What kind of question is this..? Go next door and barrow some rubbing alcohol :P You can get like a liter of the stuff from the big box store for a buck... one jump and you're there!

[BlackThorn]

What would be better for cleaning thermal paste, whisky or the stuff you use to clean windows, mirrors and aluminium and steel surfaces?

If you can't get anything else the highest percentage vodka I would imagine would be better then whisky. But seriously, rubbing alcohol is so cheap and if you're like me and live in the UK where it is not as easy to find, you can buy Arctic silver 5 cleaner and thermal paste for £9 off amazon and if your lucky like me, the company might send you two by mistake lol.