Help! How to apply thermal compound on GPU? Alienware 17

Hi!

I own an Alienware 17 with a gtx 780m, which unfortunately runs very hot. So tomorrow i'm getting some Arctic Silver 5.

Problem is, i'm not sure how to apply it on a GPU. Is it any different compared to a CPU?

Kind regards!

 

Like on CPU.

How Thermal Compound Spreads - YouTube

Remember the cooling pads on the correct places too.

I use Gelid extreeme and it works like a charm. One of the best.

 

Cool, thanks!

What's a cooling pad?

 

There are probably cooling pads on the board. You will see them when pulling apart.
Keep them clean and put them back where u found them,

 

The job is done! Almost shat my pants at first when i pressed the power button and nothing happened, but then i remembered i didnt put the battery cable in again

And for result of the Arctic Silver 5 apply: 20 degrees lower temperature under load!

 

So you don't need to replace the cooling pads when you repaste? Which spread method is best do you think? Looked like the cross worked best from that video?

 

I didnt remove the cooling pads, so i didnt need to replace them either. I used the "dot in the middle" method, which worked really well for me!

 

So is literally all you do is place a small dot of compound in the middle and then you are done or do you need to do any spreading?

 

Well, you have to remove all the old paste. After that, you just place a small dot without spreading it.

 

Exactly

 

I use the cross-method on GPU's, and the line method on CPU's. I've come to notice that it spreads more evenly than a single pea-size drop in the middle.

Both methods work great, though. :thumbsup: And yeah, don't spread it...

 

Very difficult to know what method is best by just applying and be happy about the result.

Some still put on a smooth layer.
As seen on the video that makes air bubbles.
The videos showing applying with plexi glass plate shows this the bests.
The cross is the best, but most paste are so thick that the thin lines are difficult.
Then i suggest heating the compound in boiling water before applying.
(remember to wipe off the water before use.)

The copper of the heatsink also should be of mirror like finish.
That is easily fixed using copper/crome polish and paper and just rub.

 

Thanks for the advice helps a lot. How often should you do it? Every year or longer?

 

When your radiator and inlet filter is clean and you still have problems with temperature
Some do it often.
BUT in a laptop like this, fidling with small plastic connectors, plastic covers slightly sticking needing a bit of force etc.
Dont do it to often just for doing it.

It is important that you at times check how hot its running with appropriate software.
HWinfo, T-stop (without OC) etc.

 

I just saw J.Dre's normal operating temps on his sale post :O like 10-15 degrees cooler after a repaste

 

Most aftermarket pastes tend to only last about 12 to 18 months, sometimes up to 24 months. I suggest re-pasting at least once a year. With such an expensive and high-end gaming system, you want to make sure it's performing optimally. I've heard of people re-pasting as much as every month to as little as every two years, and it mainly depends on three things: 1) what type of paste you use, 2) how much you use your system, and 3) how far & hard you push it.

But yes, every 12 months is what I recommend. And yeah, I saw huge drops in temperatures... The factory paste was horrible. During the WEI test I was seeing like 93C before the re-paste, and afterwards, I saw 71C. That is 22C less... And this is what I see now during every day usage:

Spoiler

 

Toms Hardware has done a great little article on applying and comparing thermal compounds.

Thermal Paste Comparison, Part One: Applying Grease And More - Everything You Wanted To Know About Cooling A CPU - Part I
Thermal Paste Comparison, Part Two: 39 Products Get Tested - 39 Thermal Compounds Get Benchmarked And Tested - Part II

Have a read, explains the different methods of applying the paste.

 

With the cross method you risk tiny bubbles, unless your lines are perfectly straight and even thickness. Same for spreading, you need to make sure the center is higher than the edges so the air doesn't get trapped. When those heat up, the bubbles get bigger and act as an insulator. The dot is safe, as it is compressed it will push the air out.

You might find this interesting http://www.innovationcooling.com/application.html

 

If you read all that you will find:

Mirror like finish on copper in heatsink to remove rugged surface and make a closer gap with less compound.
(do NOT overpressure while polishing, it can eventually make a dent in the surface, but all you want is the glasslike finish and you can polish smothly)
Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme as i use is the best also for use with both GPU and CPU, but a bit difficult to apply.
If you use a "thick" paste like the Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme, warm it up before applying it.

They do not cover other application methods than one line and dots. But do claim you shouldnt overapply the amount.

Pretty much the essence is most of what i wrote above
I did use some time before choosing my paste.

 

If you heat the compund and make thin lines the cross will be good, and the spreading will be good. If you use to much you risk air bubbles.
Spreading almost always generates air. Pastes are thick and bubbles dont travel well outwards due to this, it just compresses.

BTW i have opened and closed my computer quite a lot due to GPU problems. In the beginning i did the heating and the cross. Eventually i have started going dot and not heating.
See slightly higher temperatures, but 1-2 deg i dont care much about. Could even be room temperature. Living in norway i normally have more than that difference in lower air temperature than most of you guys.