How much thermal paste to put on GPUs? - Overclock.net

Sonorously · 02-19-09

I'm reseating my 9800 GT's stock paste with some TX-2, so I can get rid of the loud RAIDMAX fan on my side panel. How much TX-2 should I use?

Rajb1031 · 02-19-09

a drop like a grain of rice

crashnburn_819 · 02-19-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajb1031

a drop like a grain of rice

That's for CPU's isn't it? I'd think the direct GPU die would need less? I actually spread a thin layer over the GPU with a sandwich bag. For my proc, I use the rice method (well half anyways. It's lapped pretty close)

BLKKROW · 02-19-09

I would just say what you think will be enough to make it spread even. I dont know the exact answer but that is what i would say

Sonorously · 02-19-09

I've reseated twice. It seems to only have a 1 degree Celsius drop in idle. Is this normal? I'm about to stress test it.

sabermetrics · 02-19-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonorously

I've reseated twice. It seems to only have a 1 degree Celsius drop in idle. Is this normal? I'm about to stress test it.

Its not unheard of... normally people get around 3-5C drop in temperatures, but if your card's paste was applied well beforehand, then reapplying wouldn't make too much of a difference

As for applying, don't use a grain size... spread the paste out so there is a thin layer atop of the core itself

NrGx · 02-19-09

Sabermetrics is right. For CPU it is a grain of rice or a line of rice. For a GPU, spread it out evenly but thinly.

Oscuro · 02-22-09

Honestly, I put a small bead on my 8800GTX when I installed the AC 8800 extreme HSF on it. Works fine still.
Plan to do the same when I put the Scythe Musashi on my 9800GTX+

Edit: Reasoning? I don't like the spread out method, because with your finger, you will get high an low spots. Some of these low spots could form an air bubble when the HS is placed onto the core.
When you squish down a bead in the center of the core, there is no chance for air to get between the TIM and any surface, as it spreads.

That's my thoughts on the matter anyways.

sLowEnd · 02-22-09

Use just enough to cover the lettering on the GPU

sabermetrics · 02-22-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oscuro

Honestly, I put a small bead on my 8800GTX when I installed the AC 8800 extreme HSF on it. Works fine still.
Plan to do the same when I put the Scythe Musashi on my 9800GTX+

Edit: Reasoning? I don't like the spread out method, because with your finger, you will get high an low spots. Some of these low spots could form an air bubble when the HS is placed onto the core.
When you squish down a bead in the center of the core, there is no chance for air to get between the TIM and any surface, as it spreads.

That's my thoughts on the matter anyways.

Even with some high and low spots, the pressure of the heatsink will still spread the TIM evenly...

The reason why you should use a bead only on CPU's is because the actual cores of CPU's are located more in the centre of the IHS, so even if the TIM doesn't reach the edges, you're fine.

On the other hand, with GPU's, you're applying the TIM directly to the core, in which the entire core should be covered. You risk the chance of not covering the core entirely, or spreading too much, and having it overflow

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How much thermal paste to put on GPUs?

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