Introduction
GPU's tend to run hot and although they are designed to run in these hotter temperatures a little decrease is always welcome for some more overclocking headroom or just to improve its efficiency.
Changing the TIM is a free (Providing you have some TIM laying around), simple and quick way for reducing your temperatures. Results will vary however as it depends how much of a mess the manufacturers of your card made when applying the TIM so each card will be different. It could be that you won't see a temperature decrease but the chances are you will just remember as soon as that heatsink is unscrewed and lifted off you must replace the TIM regardless.
What you need to replace the TIM on a GPU
This is a relatively simple process so minimal tools are required but make sure you have the following:
Some companies are fussy about you replacing the TIM on your GPU. Nothing can really go wrong but I would check with your manufacturer, I know XFX Europe don't allow it. When you unscrew the back plate just make sure you don't ruin them and especially if the screws are black as signs of unscrewing can be visible if you're not careful
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How to change your TIM - Approx. 15 min
1. Firstly, do a benchmark of some sort and record your temperatures for idle and load so you have something to compare with once you change your TIM. This will also help when removing the TIM as it will be slightly warm
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2. Remove the card from your PC and place on an anti-static bag or work surface and turn the card over.
3. Remove the screws that hold the cooler on in the case of this guide remove the 4 screws in red on the 5770 shown in the picture. Once you remove the 4th screw the cooler will dropped off pretty easily so make sure you are holding on to it
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4. Looking at the stock TIM will give you an idea if you are going to see a decrease in temps. If it's nicely done don't expect much but if it's a mess under there then done properly you should see a nice drop!
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Above: This TIME doesn't look too bad really but I don't lower my temps slightly
5. Clean the TIM off the die with q-tips or other cleaning cloth making sure you remove the TIM off the heatsink too.
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6. Re-apply some TIM to the die as thin as possible and lightly spread it out so you can be sure of a full covering. Don't worry about the edges too much as the pressure from the heatsink will spread it nicely.
![]()
Above: The TIM looks thick but its actually thinner than you think
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7. Replace the heatsink carefully making sure that once you place the heatsink down you don't lift it off again as you will get air in TIM and could cause bad results
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8. Put the card back in to your rig and test idle and load temperatures to see what improvements you've got
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Results
I recorded idle temperatures of 55c and load temperatures of 86c when I did a benchmark but after replacing the TIM I was idling at 49c and at load I got 78c which to mean is pretty good to say it only took about 15 minutes and didn't cost me anything
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Remember that your results may vary though
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TIM can take a few hours to cure like on a CPU so your results may get better after a few hours or days.
Feel free to post your TIM results in this thread or if you have any questions just ask here
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TIM Guide
This section is to show what TIM others have used and how much temperature drop they got but this may not be the same for everyone so use this as just a guide
![]()
If you want to add the TIM you used to this section send me a PM or put in your post the TIM you used, temperature results and what card you used it on and if its overclocked.
Thermal Compound Tested
Akasa AK-450 - CM690 8c Drop off load temps
GPU's tend to run hot and although they are designed to run in these hotter temperatures a little decrease is always welcome for some more overclocking headroom or just to improve its efficiency.
Changing the TIM is a free (Providing you have some TIM laying around), simple and quick way for reducing your temperatures. Results will vary however as it depends how much of a mess the manufacturers of your card made when applying the TIM so each card will be different. It could be that you won't see a temperature decrease but the chances are you will just remember as soon as that heatsink is unscrewed and lifted off you must replace the TIM regardless.
What you need to replace the TIM on a GPU
This is a relatively simple process so minimal tools are required but make sure you have the following:
- Q-Tips or cleaning cloth to remove old TIM
- Small positive screw driver
- New TIM
Some companies are fussy about you replacing the TIM on your GPU. Nothing can really go wrong but I would check with your manufacturer, I know XFX Europe don't allow it. When you unscrew the back plate just make sure you don't ruin them and especially if the screws are black as signs of unscrewing can be visible if you're not careful
How to change your TIM - Approx. 15 min
1. Firstly, do a benchmark of some sort and record your temperatures for idle and load so you have something to compare with once you change your TIM. This will also help when removing the TIM as it will be slightly warm
2. Remove the card from your PC and place on an anti-static bag or work surface and turn the card over.
3. Remove the screws that hold the cooler on in the case of this guide remove the 4 screws in red on the 5770 shown in the picture. Once you remove the 4th screw the cooler will dropped off pretty easily so make sure you are holding on to it
4. Looking at the stock TIM will give you an idea if you are going to see a decrease in temps. If it's nicely done don't expect much but if it's a mess under there then done properly you should see a nice drop!
Above: This TIME doesn't look too bad really but I don't lower my temps slightly
5. Clean the TIM off the die with q-tips or other cleaning cloth making sure you remove the TIM off the heatsink too.
6. Re-apply some TIM to the die as thin as possible and lightly spread it out so you can be sure of a full covering. Don't worry about the edges too much as the pressure from the heatsink will spread it nicely.
Above: The TIM looks thick but its actually thinner than you think
7. Replace the heatsink carefully making sure that once you place the heatsink down you don't lift it off again as you will get air in TIM and could cause bad results
8. Put the card back in to your rig and test idle and load temperatures to see what improvements you've got
Results
I recorded idle temperatures of 55c and load temperatures of 86c when I did a benchmark but after replacing the TIM I was idling at 49c and at load I got 78c which to mean is pretty good to say it only took about 15 minutes and didn't cost me anything
Remember that your results may vary though
Feel free to post your TIM results in this thread or if you have any questions just ask here
TIM Guide
This section is to show what TIM others have used and how much temperature drop they got but this may not be the same for everyone so use this as just a guide
If you want to add the TIM you used to this section send me a PM or put in your post the TIM you used, temperature results and what card you used it on and if its overclocked.
Thermal Compound Tested
Akasa AK-450 - CM690 8c Drop off load temps
