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    Generic thermal compound - should I use it?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by smokinokie, Jul 9, 2012.

  1. smokinokie

    smokinokie Notebook Consultant

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    I picked up some thermal compound from a pretty well respected local computer repair shop today for a few dollars. It was all he carried and he termed it as generic. Brand name appears to be Stars and it is labeled as heatsink compound in a small plastic pack. Google just shows a bunch of people selling them in lots (I guess to computer repair shops).

    Should I use it on my GPU?

    I don't really feel like paying shipping on a $10 - $20 purchase of IC Diamond or another high grade paste. I guess I could wait until I need to order something else from Amazon.
     
    smokinokie, Jul 9, 2012
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  2. Rishwin

    Rishwin Notebook Deity

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    Well if you need a repaste then it can't hurt. It may be a few degrees warmer than with a decent brand of paste, but it will still do the job. worst case scenario you use it for a few weeks and aren't happy, all you gotta do is wipe it off and re-apply some proper paste.
     
    Rishwin, Jul 9, 2012
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  3. smokinokie

    smokinokie Notebook Consultant

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    Unfortunately I'm not sure if I need a repaste. I paid for the IC Diamond upgrade and received my Sager a few weeks ago. The Sager/Clevo 15 inch models with the 7970 seem to have a pretty wide range of temps being reported, anywhere from the mid 70s to the mid 90s with Furmark. I'm running about 86c max and I like to cool it down a bit.
     
    smokinokie, Jul 9, 2012
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  4. Rishwin

    Rishwin Notebook Deity

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    What are are we talking here, 86 degrees CPU or GPU temps? Because for GPU that's about standard (their max temp is higher than CPU's).

    Also you're saying that you currently have ICD paste and want to take it off and replace it with some generic brand? If so, i highly doubt you'll see an improvement.
     
    Rishwin, Jul 9, 2012
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  5. smokinokie

    smokinokie Notebook Consultant

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    GPU.........I'm using a cooler and some are reporting 5c-10c lower temps than me. I'm not convinced that IC Diamond was actually applied or if it was applied properly.
     
    smokinokie, Jul 9, 2012
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  6. misterhobbs

    misterhobbs Notebook Evangelist

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    I applied different TIMs, ICD7 included, multiple times and 86C was around the same temp I got every time. My advice is to leave the ICD7 in there because a repaste probably won't give you much of a change, if any. It seems to be performing within the norms. I repasted with different TIMs out of curiosity rather then necessity.

    The foil mod helps reduce it a few degrees and is very simple to do. I'd try that first and see if it helps.
     
    misterhobbs, Jul 9, 2012
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  7. LockeGilber

    LockeGilber Newbie

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    I paid for the IC Diamond upgrade and received my Sager a few weeks ago
    [​IMG]
     
    LockeGilber, Jul 10, 2012
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  8. LockeGilber

    LockeGilber Newbie

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    I paid for the IC Diamond upgrade and received my Sager a few weeks ago.
    [​IMG]
     
    LockeGilber, Jul 10, 2012
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