Thermal Compound For Graphics Card

[NightshadowUK]

Getting a Zalman VF700-CU for my GTO² this weekend in the hope of pushing the overclock further, but my question is:

What thermal paste should I use? I have some OCZ and Akasa silver stuff lying around, but I heard that it can damage graphics cards...

[RavenNight]

I think you canuse pretty much anything, I'd recommend Arctic-Cooling MX-1 from the lovely people at Scan, truely awesome stuff.

[teachmech]

As you've got the akasa use it, I have with no problems on both a 6600GT and a 6800GT, it worked a charm.

[nvening]

The AKASA stuff works fine on my x800xt

[NightshadowUK]

Awesome, cheers everyone.

[sawyen]

The goo that comes with the Zalman should be decent enuf.. When I changed from the Zalman goo to AS5, I get 1-2C difference at best...

[Agent]

Dont use anything silver based !
Any ceramique like stuff is good

[Hans Voralberg]

I use As-5 on every single thing, even the mosfet, havent seen any ill-effect yet (2 years already). So i guess it might work

[nvening]

Whats the problem with silver?

[NightshadowUK]

Dont use anything silver based !
Any ceramique like stuff is good

Do Scan sell any of that shibby 'cause I canny find anything that mentions 'ceramique'.

The goo that comes with the Zalman should be decent enuf.. When I changed from the Zalman goo to AS5, I get 1-2C difference at best...

Ah well, if it comes with it I may just use that.

[Agent]

http://forums.hexus.net/showpost.php...4&postcount=10
You'll find the same info on the AS website

I cant find it on Scan either
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3705.html

Electrical Insulator:
Ceramique does not contain any metal or other electrically conductive materials. It is a pure electrical insulator, neither electrically conductive nor capacitive.

AS5 ect. on the other hand is slightly capacitive - you get it on the wrong thing, and you can end up with a dead card. Ive seen it many many times

[Agent]

I use As-5 on every single thing, even the mosfet, havent seen any ill-effect yet (2 years already). So i guess it might work

It will only usually happens on things that are in very close proximity. RAM chips are the prime candidate for thermal paste death, as I call it.

[aidanjt]

That's only a big deal if you throw on a whole gramme of AS5, you only need a tinnyyyyyyy winnyyyy dot on the core, if you smather the stuff all over ram chips then you're hopeless at applying thermal paste.

[Agent]

That's only a big deal if you throw on a whole gramme of AS5, you only need a tinnyyyyyyy winnyyyy dot on the core, if you smather the stuff all over ram chips then you're hopeless at applying thermal paste.

Problem is, that tiny dot spreads when put under pressure. It can take the smallest of amounts to cross the pins at the edge of the IC.
Its not a simple case of being hopeless, its more of a case of being cautious

[Smokey21]

Hmmmm, it's similar to the whole static death thing, not really likely. I also read someowhere that is was a load of bull ****, can't remember the site.

Ive always found Ceramique to be the easiest to use.

[aidanjt]

Problem is, that tiny dot spreads when put under pressure. It can take the smallest of amounts to cross the pins at the edge of the IC.
Its not a simple case of being hopeless, its more of a case of being cautious

You could easily do something that careless with a CPU (granted less likely with newer CPU's with heatspreaders), it doesn't make it any less safer if applied correctly. On the plus side you have a lot of heat and gravity with GPUs..

I have the steady hands of an alcoholic with parkinsons desease and I've managed to sucessfully apply AS5 on 4 motherboard chipsets, 2 graphics cards and 20 odd CPU applications

As long as you have a keen eye, use small amounts, and take your time you wont short anything out.