Where/how do i apply the heatsink to my graphics card?

[MonolithX]

graphics card is the MSI Geforce 6600GT PCI-E
im pretty sure its overheating since comp reboots when i try to start up a game and b/c RivaTuner shows high temp when i run a game. When comp is idle card is at 48 degrees. It went up to 58 when i started a game... probably woulda gone higher if i didn't close down the game.

pics of card (front, back, side, etc.) found here: http://www.crazy-oc.de/Test_MSI_6600GT_PCI-Express.htm

i have this sticker looking thing that i assume is the heatsink. Do i remove the fan, like in the 5th picture in the link above, to apply the heatsink? oh yea the heatsink has
this logo on it. the heatsink is a half inch by half inch piece of plastic that has a paper backing that peels back to reveal the sticky heatsink compound.

and how exactly do i apply the heatsink? once i remove the fan do i stick it to the bottom of the fan (shown in the 5th picture) or do i stick it on the GPU (underneath the fan i assume... 7th picture in the link, maybe)? and do i just let it stick for a couple minutes then remove it? or do i stick it on and leave it there? my main problem is that i can't even remove the fan because its not screwed to the graphics card. instead it has two black plastic things that connect the fan to the card and each has a big arrow head that stops me from pulling it out.

heres the rest of my comp's specs if they matter (doubt it matters).
AMD64 3200+
1 gig RAM
thermaltake 420W PSU
chaintech motherboard

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Lets get some definitions straight here. The HEATSINK is the big finned metal block that has the fan attached to it.

You apply heat conducting compound or tape BETWEEN the heatsink and the GPU to efficiently conduct heat from the chip to the metal.

Tape is the least preferable option. A good quality heatsink compound like Artic Silver is much preferable, although the tape will suffice if you don't overclock.

Now, before you start yanking your heatsink off you need to know a few things. Tampering with the heatsink will VOID your warranty. Are you prepared for that?

Are you CERTAIN the card is overheating? If you're not overclocking and you have adequate case ventilation, the card should not be overheating (I don't consider 48 - 58 C a particularly high temp for a GPU - modern GPUs run hotter than that).

Is the fan on the GPU heatsink working? Make sure it's not making any rattling noises - that would be bad bearings and means the fan is probably running slow.

If the fan is bad, and it's under warranty, chances are the manufacturer will mail you a new fan if you ask them to.

If the fan is working fine, and the original heatsink is firmly attached, then you need to CONFIRM that you have a GPU heat issue BEFORE messing up a perfectly good heatsink and possibly damaging your card (since you don't have a clue what you're doing, there's a REAL change you'll damage it).

I suggest you leave the cover off the computer case and place a small desk fan next to the case blowing air directly at the video card. If it continues to misbehave, I can GUARANTEE that it's not a heat issue.

If it behaves then you need to be certain it's the GPU over heating and not the CPU (since taking the cover off will make both run cooler). What kind of temps is BIOS reporting for the CPU (in BIOS you can go to the PC Health page to find out, or you can install a temp monitor like Mother Board Monitor)?

If you HAVE to remove the GPU heatsink to apply new heatsink compound, I would recommend you buy artic silver paste and not use tape.

You can usually remove the heatsink by squeezing the arrow pointed ends of the plastic pins poking through the card with a pair of needle nose pliers and pushing them back out through the holes. The existing heatsink tape will still hold the heatsink on the GPU firmly so you must CAREFULLY twist a pry the heatsink off the chip (you can easily damage the card if you're not careful).

Some heatsinks are epoxied to the chip and may require you to freeze the card (put it in a ziplock baggie and then leave it in the freezer overnight). Once the epoxy freezes it contracts you can usually pop the heatsink right off.

Clean off the old tape or compound with a solvent like Goof Off! or alchohol. Heatsink and chip must be clean of all gunk.

If you use paste or artic silver, spread a THIN EVEN LAYER (not a big think glop). If you use tape, peel the backing off one side and center the tape on the chip. Then peel off the otherside and mount the heatsink. The tape is sticky on both sides.

Hope this helps...

 

[MonolithX]

hmm okay i think the thing i have is really a sticker and not a heat conducting compound. makes sense since my manual never mentions one in the instructions.

so i downloaded Motherboard monitor. my CPU is at 30 degrees celsius. I also downloaded RivaTuner and it says my GPU temperature idles at 47 degrees. when i start up a PC game it jumped to 58 degrees within a minute or so. What else should i be checking the temperature on? What are dangerous temps for my CPU and GPU?

I don't have a small desk fan so i can't test that out.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

I suspect that motherboard monitor is telling you the CASE temp not the CPU temp (seems low to me unless you have a VERY good HSF). It's easy to set it up to read the wrong sensor. I would expect the CPU to run hotter than that. Try booting into BIOS and check the case and CPU temps in the PC Health menu.

Modern CPUs can run anywhere from 35 - 60C. I don't like to see a CPU run over 60C and your mobo should be setup to sound an alarm at 70C.

Modern GPUs run hotter than CPUs. 55 - 70C is not unusual.

Please try my recommendation of taking the cover off for a few days (desk fan not really required). Just taking the cover off - assuming your room is airconditioned - should drop the temps in the case substantially. If it behaves then you KNOW it's a temp problem.

 

[MonolithX]

ok thank you for the speedy response.