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himmatsj
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2016/06/02 02:32:05 (permalink)
I have done reading on the Internet, and apparently people say that from time to time manufacturers may apply thermal paste in a wrongful manner, and the quality of the paste itself can be suspect.I have some Thermaltake TG-3, and have come to the decision that I wish to replace my thermal paste.Why? Simple. I just ran a 15-minute test with Furmark, and I disabled the 80C limit (set it to 95C, power limit still at 100%). And you know what!? The temps were at 89C at the end of the 15 minutes with ambient temps of 29-30C (it was raining at the time I did the tests, so cooler than normal). That's crazy high, whichever way you dice it. My casing may have no intake fans, sure...but I simply do not believe this is possible. I even had set the fan speed to a constant 45%, which is higher than the default fan speed that tops out at 40%.I found someone on the Internet with the exact same GPU as mine, and when he ran Furmark with a 45% fan curve at otherwise stock settings, his temps hit a high of 61C! So this is a 28C difference. Almost 50% higher temps in my casing with a brand new GPU (2.5 weeks old).When I look back at my GTX 750 SC, and compare the maximum temperature of 68C with those of reviewers (I had stock fan settings that time), who mention it hitting a high of 58C....you can see the difference is much lower.So long story short, I fear that the thermal paste application may have been botched on my GPU. I see no other reasonable explanation for this.Please, somebody guide me on what needs to be done. I understand the risks, but I rather get this done with. If replacing the thermal paste doesn't improve temperatures notably, then I know that this isn't the issue.Thanks!
post edited by himmatsj - 2016/06/02 02:41:30
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Mauro33
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 02:43:17 (permalink)
I have routinely replaced paste on both cpu and gpu on my laptops. I get an average of 12 degrees Celsius difference on the gpu in about a week after the paste has a chance to set up and 8 degrees Celsius on the cpu. I recently replaced the paste on a gtx 970 that seemed to be running hot. It also dropped 9 degrees Celsius the first day and 12 degrees Celsius after about a week, same exact benchmarks. On a side note, the paste on the 970 was almost a powder. 2 months old. Have also found it dry numerous times on customers laptops that are running very warm. In closing, be sure to use a lint free cloth. Coffee filters are my go-to. I use 93% alcohol for fast drying time and no residue. Apply a pea sized drop, and let the pressure from the tightening spread it. Hope that helps.
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himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 06:22:14 (permalink)
My, that's quite a big difference.
I just hope I don't destroy anything.
If anyone has anything specific to say about the exact model GPU I have in terms of disassembling it, I would appreciate it. Can't find any videos on that matter.
I did see Linus removing on a 960 SSC, and he got 3C drop. So I should get 5-6C drop in temperature at most if there isn't anything wrong with the current thermal paste, quality or application wise. If I get more than 10C improvement, well then the paste was faulty in some manner.
#3
Zuhl3156
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 06:29:58 (permalink)
Here's one for you...
https://www.heatware.com/u/100032/to
#4
himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 06:34:05 (permalink)
I did watch that. It's the SSC though.
#5
Zuhl3156 See AlsoGTX 960 - EVGA ForumsNVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 Full Specs and Release DateGTX 770 4GB Release Date?
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 06:43:29 (permalink)
himmatsjI did watch that. It's the SSC though.
Sorry, I'm not really awake yet. I just saw GTX-960 and thought I nailed it. They're all pretty much the same though. My GTX-680 was very similar in fact. I used the pea sized drop method and then got criticized by someone who informed me that I should have spread it out because a GPU chip is not like a CPU and all surfaces should be covered. I was told I should have spread it out while Linus says not to do that. My EK waterblocks advises using a 'star' method so that's what I used the second time while I decided to just spread it out the first time. I got the same results both times.
https://www.heatware.com/u/100032/to
#6
himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 06:50:37 (permalink)
Ok, so pea sized means just a "drop" in the middle of the shiny metal square right? And don't spread it out myself? Let the heatsink squish it so it spreads out by itself?Also, is there an actual chance that thermal paste in certain cards get applied in a substandard manner? I came across this thread on EVGA's very own forum for the GTX 960 SSC...the guy's temps dropped from 80 to 57 in a particular game. I don't think mine is as bad, but when someone is running Furmark at 61C compared to me at 89C on the exact same card and the exact same fan speed, I do have cause for concern. http://forums.evga.com/EVGA-GTX-960-SSC-4-GB-High-Temp-m2467426.aspxWhat about the thermal pads? I'm scared if they get removed when I remove the GPU cover.
#7
Zuhl3156
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 07:02:24 (permalink)
I think the 'line' or 'X' method would be better than a pea sized drop method from what I've seen. If the thermal pads get removed or stuck to whatever you're removing just put them back in place. They'll be fine and should stick by themselves. I never had any problems with thermal pads. They usually stay where they're supposed to be. Just be careful to not overtighten the screws. Some of them can break rather easily if you're not careful. I've had a lot of experience with small screws from working with alternators, carburetors and other electronic components so I know just when to stop. I only hold the screwdriver with two fingers when tightening small screws.
https://www.heatware.com/u/100032/to
#8
himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 07:25:29 (permalink)
A lint free cloth would be the one that is used to clean spectacles/glasses right? The one that comes in the box?
Would there be a decent substitute for alcohol? I don't have that. Something homely?
#9
Zuhl3156
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 07:28:39 (permalink)
Alcohol is the only way to go. Sorry. It's only around $.79 at the grocery store. Coffee filters are lint free and I use them all of the time for the final cleaning. Plus they're dirt cheap too.
https://www.heatware.com/u/100032/to
#10
Arct1c0n
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/02 12:37:34 (permalink)
Just buy rubbing alcohol, generic brand, no reason not to. Its freaking $2 dude
#11
himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/03 11:07:23 (permalink)
Image of back of GPU: http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/14-487-154-Z03?$S640$So what steps are needed to disassemble the GPU?
#12
Zuhl3156
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/03 11:24:15 (permalink)
It looks like you just have the four screws to remove there. If the assembly does not easily lift off after removing the screws there is one small screw on the bottom of the plastic shroud and two inside the bracket that may or may not need to be removed. It looks pretty easy from here. I have also used an old toothbrush to scrub away the dried out TIM.
https://www.heatware.com/u/100032/to
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himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/04 00:07:22 (permalink)
Zuhl3156It looks like you just have the four screws to remove there. If the assembly does not easily lift off after removing the screws there is one small screw on the bottom of the plastic shroud and two inside the bracket that may or may not need to be removed. It looks pretty easy from here. I have also used an old toothbrush to scrub away the dried out TIM.
Just a quick question...how will I know if there needs to be more than just the 4 screws to remove? Apparently the card needs to be yanked due to the vacuum seal, but I'm just afraid, if there still were some screws connected, I may break the board doing this. Hope to know if there's a method to tell gently that the 4 screws are enough.
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Zuhl3156
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/04 04:19:10 (permalink)
Don't pull it apart. Twist it gently a very small amount to break the vacuum seal of the TIM. It shouldn't take very much force at all. Hopefully, someone here has taken that video board apart and will offer some input.
https://www.heatware.com/u/100032/to
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himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/04 22:03:47 (permalink)
Ok guys, just want to let you know my results. I repeated a 1100 seconds run of Furmark directly before I removed and replaced the paste. Again, I got 89C at 45% fan speed.The factory-applied thermal paste was actually pretty decently applied. It seemed tidy, though possibly there was just a tiny bit too much of it.I applied the first time, a small pea in the centre. Closed the thing up. Ran Furmark for two 1100 second runs. Both times the temperature topped out at 85C.I thought I may have applied too much the first time, so I opened it up again. In fact, it seemed like there was too little. I could see bare metal in places around the centre of the shiny GPU die. Now, this second time, I applied just a bit more...however, sadly now my temperature maxes out at 88C (1C less than before) but curiously my idle temps are 2C higher than the original factory paste application.I did some more reading, and apparently "less is more" for thermal paste. The GTX 960 die is also extremely small. The first time I applied it, even though bare meta was showing in places around the centre, it spread out very evenly around the entire die.As such, I think that was the better approach. I will definitely re-apply once or twice more. I will put on a very tiny amount first. If temps are as good or better than 85C, I will leave it. Else, I will apply the amount I had applied the first time I did it.I took some photos, but it was on my iPad and kinda blurry. I'll link them up here a little later.Edit: I was shocked to see that there were ZERO thermal pads/heatsinks on the PCB (other than the main heatsink). I compared this to the GTX 960 SSC and the Asus 960...and those have pads and heatsinks on certain components. Would thermal pads improve core GPU temperature by much?Edit 2: Another interesting observation is that with the first method I used, my temps start out in the mid 40C when I run Furmark. With the original factory application and the second method I had used, the temps start out right away in the mid 50C.
post edited by himmatsj - 2016/06/04 22:07:56
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Sajin
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/04 22:39:28 (permalink)
#1 Your main problem here is that you are running your gpu fan speed @ 45%.#2 Ambient temps play a big role in final temps.#3 Don't believe everything you hear on the internet.#4 Call evga and ask them if your card includes thermal pads on the memory or not.
See my current build here:https://forums.evga.com/My-bench-rig-unlimited-power-m3596024.aspxRTX 2080 Ti 4-way SLI?!?!:https://forums.evga.com/RTX-2080-Ti-4way-SLi-set-by-yours-truly-m2954756.aspx
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himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/04 23:16:03 (permalink)
Sajin#1 Your main problem here is that you are running your gpu fan speed @ 45%.#2 Ambient temps play a big role in final temps.#3 Don't believe everything you hear on the internet.#4 Call evga and ask them if your card includes thermal pads on the memory or not.
45% is so that I can fix it at a constant. I can't measure changes in temperature properly if I left the fan speed to be a variable now, would I?For me personally, there is a 5C+ difference between daytime and nighttime ambient temps...but sadly for whatever reason my GPU/CPU temps are always the same (to the nearest C), be it during the day or night. Maybe the outside ambient temps change but not in my house, I don't know.I can't call EVGA but will send them an email.
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himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/04 23:43:03 (permalink)
http://m.imgur.com/a/pehQ1
Top two images are after my first application (which reduced my temps to 85C).
Bottom three images are from the original application. You can see in the third image that there are no thermal pads to be seen.
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Zuhl3156
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/05 04:30:56 (permalink)
I spread mine out the first time and used a 'star' pattern as recommended by EKWK the second time. I saw no difference in temps. I don't measure my maximum temperature, I measure the difference above ambient temperature which is never more than 25°C. I think a thin line would work better for you than a pea sized drop and give you better coverage. Ambient temps play a big part in your final result. You really should let your fan spin up higher when higher temps are reached.
https://www.heatware.com/u/100032/to
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Stardust_One
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/05 09:21:13 (permalink)
Ambient temperature means a lot. Between summer and winter the difference is over 10°C... Before opening the card and change the paste, which is not for everybody fun... ^^ - I know you allready did, check the airflow in you case make sure you have fresh air in your flat.Edit:...
post edited by Carbonshape - 2016/06/05 09:24:27
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himmatsj
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Re: How to reapply thermal paste on a GTX 960 SC? (Temps hitting 89C) 2016/06/06 08:59:50 (permalink)
Ok, just to update you guys, I went out and got a Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut. It was just to satisfy myself to know how low my GPU temps could go only by applying "better" thermal paste.So after 1200 seconds of Furmark, these are the summary results with a constant 45% fan speed and otherwise stock settings:Stock paste = 89CXigmatek Freezing Point paste = 85-86CThermal Grizzly Kryonaut paste = 83CManaged to shave off 6C in my cramped up OEM casing.May not seem much, but Furmark is a worst case scenario, so it should now mean that in-game at least, I would not hit the 80C limit and start downclocking there. I guess this is the best, so the only way I can now further improve my temps in the future is by either modding in an intake fan, or buying a new casing outright.Thanks for the guidance provided by fellow forum members above.
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