Best way to attach ramsinks to 8800GT? Tape, Epoxy?

[BlueWeasel]

I recently got the Accelero S1 for my BFG 8800GT and I constantly hear how the included ramsinks fall off due to poor attachment.

Additional TT heatsinks for the PVM

I also plan on picking up the TT heatsinks above and place them on the PVM area (right of the GPU).

What's something that could be picked up locally to attach the sinks? Thermal tape would probably be my top choice as it's easy to remove the sinks without damaging the chips.

Mixing epoxy with AS5, MX-1, etc, seems to be a popular choice but that's a more permanent solution.

Any suggestions?

 

[dedwards]

I'm in a similar situation. I've ordered an 8800GT and I'm planning to attach my existing Swiftech waterblock along with a set of ramsinks.

I ordered some of the Arctic Silver thermal adhesive, which I plan to dilute with some regular AS5 to make it non-permanent.

I will post again with results / impressions.

DE

 

[humanure]

I've always used the tape with ram sinks, I used the Vantec iceberq sinks on my old x1900xtx and the tape held just fine. I wouldn't want to use something that makes the attachment permanent.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: humanure
I've always used the tape with ram sinks, I used the Vantec iceberq sinks on my old x1900xtx and the tape held just fine. I wouldn't want to use something that makes the attachment permanent.

Well, I'm not worried about the TT heatsinks. Based on the reviews off Newegg, the tape that comes with them is sufficient.

I did see that Radio Shack carries thermal tape, so I may pick up some to attach the sinks that came with the S1.

 

[thilanliyan]

I'd go with thermal tape. I once watercooled a x1800XL card and used some epoxy type material by Arctic Cooling and I had to put the card in the freezer and break off the ramsinks to put the original cooler back on...and then actually scrape off the excess material with a blade. I wouldn't do that again and would just use some thermal tape.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I recently got the Accelero S1 for my BFG 8800GT and I constantly hear how the included ramsinks fall off due to poor attachment.

Additional TT heatsinks for the PVM

I also plan on picking up the TT heatsinks above and place them on the PVM area (right of the GPU).

What's something that could be picked up locally to attach the sinks? Thermal tape would probably be my top choice as it's easy to remove the sinks without damaging the chips.

Mixing epoxy with AS5, MX-1, etc, seems to be a popular choice but that's a more permanent solution.

Any suggestions?

I'm using the original ramsinks that came with the S1, and there is no problem at all. All you have to do is clean the ram chips very well with some isopropylic alcohol and when you stick the ramsinks, apply a steady pressure on them for some 15 seconds or so. I'm also using normal double side sticky tape for the PWM chips. It is cheap, it offers good thermal conductivity and it can be taken off without to much of an effort. I must specify, that for the PWM chips I've installed some heatsinks left over from an old revoltec video card cooler.

 

[Hauk]

You may have heard of mem sinks falling off with tape. Someone's alredy covered the importance of clean surfaces. Another reason they can fall off is the adhesive is softened during initial heating. A trick, with sinks applied and card upright, blow some heat on them with a hair dryer to get wam up the adhesive. Press them down again, cool, repeat. Two thermal cycles should be enough to imsure they don't fall off.

 

[error8]

The thing is that I don't really think that is necessary to use PWM heatsinks. A decent airflow over them I believe it's enough. There are some 8800 GT's out there that don't have anything on these chips, like the Gigabyte model with the Zalman cooler. But when you start doing some volt modding, I guess these chips are a must.