stock vpu TIM

[wazzledoozle]

Ive noticed on some websites that review video cards, they make reference to the thick stock thermal paste as TIM, and say it cushions the VPU from the surface of the heatsink to prevent the heatsink crushing it. ONe site even went as far as to say not to remove the TIM. I am going to put an Iceberg 4 on my 9550, and i was wondering if i should leave the stock thick thermal paste on the VPU?

[pablofrogo]

Whatever those sites were, ignore them, the Thermal Interface Material (TIM) is designed to fill the minute fluctuations in the surface of the heatsink. The stock TIM is usually silicone based (which is white), and not very conductive. You want to remove this with cleaner or white spirit and replace it with Arctic silver 5 which is the most conductive TIM at the moment.

[Slayerstaps]

Yep, ignore those sites. All they say there is wrong. You need paste between the core and the cooling object cause it helps to transfer the heat and to fill little gaps on the bottom of the cooling object. So everytime you remove a cooler you also remove the paste and you apply new one...They give you that paste with those things for a reason you kno....

[wazzledoozle]

I wash just worried about the cushioning aspect of the TIM, because my video card does not have a shim. Or does a shim really matter?

[Slayerstaps]

As long as you don't really overtighten a vid card cooler you will be fine don't worry about it....

[sersalpha]

All of the stock TIM's that I've encountered seem so hard that I would think you'd be more likely to crack your core using them.

[wazzledoozle]

hehe
I just took off my stock heatsink, and my 9550 had some cheapo white silicon based stuff that wasnt thick at all.

[sersalpha]

Just make sure that you use a powerful solvent that leaves no residue to get that crap off. Radio Shack Professional Tape Head Cleaner, acetone or any carburetor cleaner that doesn't have lubricants will work.

[wazzledoozle]

i use cleaning alchohol and a xylene based paint thinner

[Slayerstaps]

LOL, i just use a piece of toilet paper most of the time :D
It never failend me... :p

[wazzledoozle]

LOL, i just use a piece of toilet paper most of the time :D
It never failend me... :p
Wheres teh Ductape????? No job is done until its ductape is on!

[sersalpha]

LOL, i just use a piece of toilet paper most of the time :D
It never failend me... :p

toilet paper :eek: You've wasted your money if you've bought and plan to use Arctic Silver or the like, because it just sits on top of that white goo and toilet paper lint.

[pablofrogo]

toilet paper :eek: You've wasted your money if you've bought and plan to use Arctic Silver or the like, because it just sits on top of that white goo and toilet paper lint.

Hey, this is Slayerstaps.. he knows what he's doing ;)

[sersalpha]

The real world difference may only be 1C or 2C, but I think that it's worth taking the extra steps to make sure that the core is cleaned ;)