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Well, I've solved my overheating problem.

BlueAcolyte

BlueAcolyte

Platinum Member
Ok, so I've posted before that I need(ed) to underclock my memory on my 8800GT because of a lack of heatsinks. The ones from arctic cooling that came with my Accelero fell off. So today (after a discreet trip to Fry's)

I went to put on my new Zalman RAMsinks when I noticed there was a hideous amount of dust on the ram chips, presumably attracted by the remainders of the thermal tape from the arctic cooling RAMsinks.

Oops. 😛

And now I'm loving my memory running at its rated speed!
 
When you originally put on the Arctic Cooling memory heatsinks, did you properly clean the memory chips? Typically they have an oily residue on them from the factory heatsink which is a pain to clean off, and which will cause aftermarket heatsinks to fall off.
 
Originally posted by: Zap
When you originally put on the Arctic Cooling memory heatsinks, did you properly clean the memory chips? Typically they have an oily residue on them from the factory heatsink which is a pain to clean off, and which will cause aftermarket heatsinks to fall off.
Click to expand...

According to both Thermalright and Arctic Cooling, this is the main cause of loose RAM sinks.
 
Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
I wiped them down, yes. Maybe not well enough. But it's ok now.
Click to expand...

All's well that ends well.

I know I'm going to be anal retentive about cleaning the RAM chips when I get my Accelero. According to Arctic Cooling they need to be spotless.
 
Originally posted by: clandren
q-tip + rubbing alcohol
Click to expand...

Actually, you'd be surprised how ineffective that is. I spent about an hour cleaning mine with q-tip, rubbing alcohol and coffee filters, and I still had one fall off. I read one review online that said that rubbing alcohol simply isn't sufficient, and you need to use something like ArctiClean or Goof-off.

So now I have to figure out what to do about 7 firmly attached heatsinks and one that fell off.

Edit: I'm running ATITool with one of the RAMsinks off and haven't had any errors yet.

Temps went from 62C idle and 93C load to 37C idle and 62C load.
 
Originally posted by: DSF
Originally posted by: clandren
q-tip + rubbing alcohol
Click to expand...

Actually, you'd be surprised how ineffective that is. I spent about an hour cleaning mine with q-tip, rubbing alcohol and coffee filters, and I still had one fall off. I read one review online that said that rubbing alcohol simply isn't sufficient, and you need to use something like ArctiClean or Goof-off.

So now I have to figure out what to do about 7 firmly attached heatsinks and one that fell off.

Edit: I'm running ATITool with one of the RAMsinks off and haven't had any errors yet.

Temps went from 62C idle and 93C load to 37C idle and 62C load.
Click to expand...

Should of just used Isoproply Alcohol which is like 99% pure. Rubbing Alcohol is like 70%.
 
With most thermal compunds you need a petroleum based alkane like barbecue or lighter fluid, alcohol is not effective as it is too polar (due to the oxygen atom) to dissolve the silicon oil.

Alkanes also good for sticky label residues.
 
If it's a grease from the manufacturing process, isopropanol will be too polar to really get rid of it. Better to use a nail polish remover with ethyl acetate in it, much less polar. Unless you happen to have some hexane or toluene lying around :-D
 
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