4870 Thermal Paste

[Ov3rboost]

Assalamulaikum all. I wanted to ask if its a good idea to replace my 4870's gpu's thermal paste with MX-2 or is the one that XFX provides better? The card in question is a 1gb XFX 4870 with a full slot cooler. The temperatures are a bit on the higher side. At stock fan settings, it idles at 65 and at load goes 80+ easily. At custom fan settings, i.e most of the time the fan is above 65%, the idle is around 60 and remains under 80 at full load (fan at 100%). I know these temperatures are pretty fine for a 4870 but if I want to reduce the temps, would replacing the thermal paste help?

 

[AFQ]

Replacing the paste might help, but its not guaranteed. Infcat its a good idea to change TIM.

btw waiting for your spray paint guide.

 

[motogp]

yes applying new quality thermal paste helps bring down the temperatures but not by much. an aftermarket cooler is the best choice for bringing down temperatures.

 

[kingsface]

Applying thermal paste can bring temps lower but not by too much.

 

[LiV3 WiR3]

If ur Old Paste is really Crappy & Dry then it would help a Lot...If it's new then it won't do much!...But still it would make difference!

 

[SilverDrag]

it will void your waranty if they figure that out!

 

[ali tayyab]

the 4870 uses a variety of thermal solutions. the main gpu uses thermal goo, the VRMs and memory uses thermal pads. You CANT replace thermal pads with paste as they won't make contact with the heat sinks on the cooler. If u use too thick an amount of thermal paste to make up for thickness, you'll loose conductivity.

Re doing the gpu does make a difference. I have done it myself. you'll get about 5C on the GPU. BUT u'll need thermal pads as well.

 

[theDarkDisciple]

The thermal pads dont need changing and are reusable even if you open the cooler multiple times, right?

 

[motogp]

^ usually they dont need changing but sometimes the pads get torn when you open up the cooler which can leave you in a sticky situation.

 

[sp20v]

^^Agreed...Pads Stick To CPu And memchips when heated And when You try To Remove...They will Be torned .....!! for Better look for it before trying....!!
depends on what version of 4870 You got.....!! picture might help but dual slot cooler definitely have pads...thats for sure as it covers all of card area....!

 

[Ov3rboost]

Thank you all for the response.

My vga is more than a year old so the thermal paste might have dried up a bit. I havent opened up the cooler yet to see the condition the thermal paste is in. Thats why I've asked here if its a good idea to change the thermal paste because if I open up the cooler, then I'll definitely have to change the paste.

@Silverdrag. It doesnt have any warranty left so voiding the warranty isnt an issue.

@AliTayyab. Bro I do not plan to replace the thermal pads with thermal paste. I only want to change the paste on the gpu so that it runs cooler (if the paste makes any difference). This is the same 4870 that I bought from you some time ago. Does opening up the cooler mean that I have to replace the thermal pads no matter what or can the same thermal pads be reused? Would the thermal pads be easily available if the stock ones get damaged?

@Sp20v. Here's the version of the 4870:
http://www.overclock.net/attachments/appraisals/132576d1260495063-xfx-4870-1gb-xfx-4870-front.jpg

@MrAFQ. Will make one soon but I'm really short on the in-progress photos. I'll use photos from different paintjobs that I did.

 

[sp20v]

You Got This cooler

And As You See...It Got thermal pad for memory Chips...!!
So Be Careful removing sink As You can possibly damage Thermal pads which are not available here....!!
They Mostly get stuck On memchips and as you pull cooler...it torn apart....!!

 

[Ov3rboost]

Thanks for the pic bro. Now after looking at the pic, I'm having second thoughts about opening it up. The heat pads are bound to get damaged since 4870 is a hot card.

 

[sp20v]

Yup....!!!
yaar someone Also import Thermal pads as we need Them Too...
Alienware....here I Come To Ask