Poor GPU cooler installation == normal?

[WildW]

My girlfriend told me at the weekend that her games have been crashing out at times, followed by fuzzy dots on the desktop. Sounded like GPU overheating to me, especially since the card (9800GTX+) had always run hot from the day I bought it about 18 months ago. It used to hit 95 degrees C on Furmark.

So, I figured I'd whip it out and cover her in some fresh goo. After removing the yucky white stuff I . . . I've no idea why you guys are sniggering back there. . . after removing the crappy white thermal gunge and applying some silver based stuff, Furmark now tops out at 75C - a hell of a difference. Had to fight the urge to overclock it . . .

So, is it standard practice for you folks to reapply the thermal gunge on graphics cards when you get them? The card in question was a cheapy brand (Club3D) . . .do the "better" brands tend to use better stuff? I'm tempted to go home and redo my XFX 5850 cooler now.

 

[Hauk]

Can't comment on the 9800GTX running hot, plenty of unknowns. But typically, TIM (thermal interface material) is overapplied to the GPU and is not silver based. It is however, good enough to do the job usually. Typical results from using a better TIM are around 5 degree drops.

Thermal pads are used for memory and VRM chips. You can't replicate their thickness with a simple thermal paste. In addition, you shouldn't use silver based TIM on these components. It's fairly safe to assume that only a small percentage of people actually attempt to mess with replacing TIM.

Regarding your 5850, it's got a fairly precise application of good quality TIM to the GPU, and firm thermal pads for the VRMs and memory. I'd NOT recommed messing with it for the hell of it. Here's a pic: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5850/images/cooler2.jpg

The only thing you may want to do is insure all backplate screws are tight. I do this with all cards I get. Workers can get sloppy by my standards, I've found plenty of loose screws. Poor tightening can affect the contact patch. Don't overtighten, my rule is to use thumb and index finger only with a small screwdriver. Nice and firm.

 

[WildW]

A fair comment - the 5850 is the first high-end card I've had in a while so I hadn't considered the issues. The 9800 heatsink does not contact the memory chips and the VRMs have a separate heatsink, so all I had to deal with was the GPU.

 

[Hauk]

Yea for sinks that contact the GPU only, it's not a bad idea to replace TIM. Glad it helped with the girlfriend's card. She probably didn't mind some new goo..

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Always re-seat the heatsink on a new card. More often than not I've found screws under torqued, wayyy too much crappy TIM and a few too many washers making the heatsink stand off the die.

Friend had an old 6800 that was overheating without fail every session. Took the stock cooler off and, get this, the manufacturer had applied the TIM over the silk screen the die had been shipped to them with. No wonder it was overheating...