Do I need a re-paste?

Hi everyone,

About a year ago I applied MX-4 thermal paste to my CPU and GPUs in my m17xR2. It didnt blow up so I was happy. Now however, I'm wondering if somehow the paste is "wearing out."

Currently I idle at 40-45 degrees, but I can easily hit 100 in benchmark apps and reach around 90+ in games. I cant tell if there is any throttling at these temps, but i would guess there are.

I did not perform the retention mod; I will not risk cracking my cores or bending my cards. I might still consider performing surgery on the heat spreaders themselves.

So, are there enough warning signs that I should do something here?

Thanks
rsgeiger

 

Although artic cooling claims the mx-4 has 8 year durability, I like to repaste every year.

What temps were you getting when you first pasted? i would definitely check to make sure that no vents are clogged and that the heatsink is on snug.

 

If you're in doubt, I would just go in there and clean it all up. Repaste, cut new thermal pads, clean the crud off of the heatsink and fan blades.

 

Thanks guys.

I do vacuum and air blow the vents every month. As for the heatsink being tight, all i could do was tighten down the screws until the card started to show flex. I hear there are better methods, but I dont know them.

 

that's too tight lol...you want it snug, but not bending the card lol

 

Sometimes overtightening it means that one end may actually lift off due to an uneven balance of pressure. I repaste like every month because I'm OCD.

 

when your card idles at 40c and goes 100 under load, then this is a contact between die-heatsink problem.
it may be caused by themal paste wearing off but not in this case i think.
your die is loosing contact with the cooling system
i'm 99% sure

 

Thanks everyone. I'll re paste and try ti get the contact right. If anyone has any more tips on how to accomplish that, any techniques they use, then I'll be very appreciative.

 

here check out this guide...it has a section on how to put the thermal paste on and how to put the screws of the heatsink in...its very important that you don't over torque the screws and it is also important that you turn the screws 3/4 turn in the 1-2-3-4 pattern. If you follow the 1-2-3-4, you will be making an X (kinda like how you put a tire on)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...pu-m17x-r3-illustrated-guide.html#post8021785

 

Thanks Slick!
That is indeed a great guide! Will use it.

I must have over tightened somehow. Because I turn each screw a quarter turn in a clockwise fashion. Maybe the cross tightening method is better.

 

Thanks rs! The cross tightening method helps to keep the heatsink flat which will be better for your temps