Ref 580 gtx, safe to replace VRM TIM with paste ?

[peonyu]

I have a order of IC diamond 24 carat coming my way, and I am going to replace the generic white paste I am using now on my cpu/video card with it. I noticed though that the 580gtx heatsink has a TIM pad over the memory and VRMS...My question is, is it safe to remove those pads and put thermal paste on them instead ? The only thing keeping me from doing that right now is the risk of "clearance" - im not sure if the pads are there because the heatsink doesn't make full contact with the card, or if they are there just for cost factor and convenience [on Nvidia's side].

 

[Grooveriding]

You need to use pads on the vrms and memory. TIM will spread and possibly come in contact with the solder contacts, and heatsinks will not make proper contact with the vrms and memory chips without thermal pads.

Change the TIM on the chip, but leave the pads intact.

 

[peonyu]

Thanks, Thats what I thought by looking at the design.