SAGER NP-9370: GPU2 +10c hotter than GPU1 while gaming

I recently re-pasted my SAGER NP9370 with AS5 in order to practice and now I'm getting 42/45c on IDLE and 70/84c while GAMING on my 680M SLi, is this difference in temps between GPU1 and 2 normal? Both GPUs seems healthy, even after +2h gaming neither of them achieve temp limit, voltage limit, OV max limit or utilization limit. While gaming both are at ~50-60% use and I'm using the latest Nvidia driver.



This image isn't from my computer, it's just an illustration of how the fans and heatsinks are organized.

 

Heatsink contact is probably the issue.. Also AS5 is junk.. Get some good IC Diamond/GC Extreme paste..

Some new thermal pads on GPU will also help, Phobya XT pads are cheap and good!

 

I know AS5 isn't good, that's why I'm using it as a test paste to know if I'm pasting correctly. I'm looking to buy Gelid GC Extreme and where I live this is a bit expensive to get, hence I'm trying to get a decent grasp on paste application, so I don't waste any Gelid GC! So, that's not normal, having GPU2 10c higher than GPU1?

 

Temps are normal because of 3rd cpu heatpipe. I had same issue, 10-15C difference.
Solution is to get one-piece heatsink for that right side GPU and remove third heatpipe from CPU heatsink (or get one with 2 heatpipes). Newer models like Clevo P370SM-A or P377SM-A have those and without shared CPU heat sink. You have to cut little plastic piece away from inside of bottom cover so it will fit perfectly.
I also bought new top notch thermal pads and GC Extreme. All of that dropped my slave GPU temps from 90C to 70-73C while gaming. And that allowed me to get a decent OC going with 25-30% performance gain.

PS: No need to change left GPU heatsink. I did't get better temps from swapping that heatsink.

 

AS5 isn't junk, but it does have a curing time. ~10 C difference between GPUs in SLI is a bit extreme, usually the contrast is more along the lines of about 4 - 5 degrees Celsius in our testing.

 

Where can I find those specific heatsinks, do they have any model number so I can search here where I live? And by third CPU heatpipe you mean the one that goes to the right and shares the GPU fan?

Yes, I know about the break-in period but I won't really be using AS5 in the future, I'm just practicing thermal application as I su** at it. I pasted both GPU1 and GPU2 at the same time and I'm already getting good temps on GPU1 of 70-75c while GPU2 is getting 84-86c when gaming, whenever those temps go up or down, it always stay like GPU2 = GPU1 + 10-15c when gaming.

 

You'll get there! I doubt your application is all that bad. How does the spread look when comparing the application between the two GPUs (after gaming/benchmarking)?

 

This application was the second in a row, the first one I used too little paste so the temps on GPU2 were so high that I couldn't even start games as the computer would restart. I then saw that I used too little paste on GPU2, so I went and put some more in the places where the paste wasn't really in contact with the heatsink. I believe the spread on GPU2 is okay now but I still get those high temps as stated in the topic (lower than the +92c I was getting sometime ago, but not as good as GPU1). I didn't mess with GPU1 because I'm already getting good temps during games, so I believe it's OK.

I didn't check them after gaming, should I do that? Wouldn't that ruin my work on GPU1?

 

It might create air pockets if you take the heatsink off, then reapply it. If you have enough compound to spare, I say give it a look and reapply the paste to both GPUs again, but it's your call and up to how much compound you have to work with.

When/if you reapply, clean both the IHS on the chip and the heatsink. It's best not to add compound over an existing application.

 

If I do this little checkup would I need to clean everything or just add some to the existing paste? I cleaned and pasted it not long ago, 1-2 days. I don't have much AS5 left, so I think it's best to let thing how they are until I get Gelid GC.

 

I would never suggest adding to existing paste. I always clean and repaste whenever I take the heatsink off.

 

Your sentence doesn't make sense, you mean that you would never suggest leaving the paste there, right? I believe there's a typo in there.

 

Sorry, I meant I would never suggest adding to existing paste. When you take the heatsink off, you should always clean off the heatsink + chip and repaste it.

 

Newer clevo P37xxx uses better slave gpu cooling but cpu cooling suffers. Just search heatsinks by newer clevo models P377SM etc.

https://goo.gl/images/tnhcou
Slave gpu gets whole fan for cooling, instead sharing it with cpu. Gpu temps decreases more than cpu temps raises.

 

Hum... It's very similar to SAGER NP9370:



Master GPU I believe is the same structure, then the CPU uses this thin cooler that seems to be the same one as the NP9370 and don't have the right heatsink arm. Finally, the Slave GPU is the same thing, but I believe the cooper structure may be a little higher as it won't have to leave some free space for the now gone CPU right arm heatsink. Does this tiny change in design really helps cooling? o.0

 

Don't add to the existing application. Wait until your Gelid TIM comes in and, when you go to repaste with it, look at the spread you currently have with the AS5. Compare them and then go from there with the Gelid compound.

 

Slave gpu will have more fins in front of fan and it will knock 10-15C off.

 

I want you to carefully repaste the GPU in question. make sure the air ducts are clean too. If you would like some help in repasting, I can give you a long list of how-to's and do's and don'ts if you are unsure. Remember the point of thermally cooling the videocards with a heatsink is to make better-direct contact with the heatsink. No air gaps - and even THERMAL PASTE ACTS AS AN INSULATION MATERIAL when too thick or compared to copper, like on the heatsink. It is however the LESSER evil compared to a microscopic air gap caused by dust or impurities in the surfaces of the two materials touching each other. understanding that should allow you to make the most out of the heatsing solution. NEXT - i would check to see if the fan is working on that 2nd GPU. There are ways you can up the voltage or keep it constant with some after market tricks - people on these forums have done it all.

 

Gelid is very good, especially the Extreme. however - you need to know how to silk screen it to make better use of that effectiveness. im my experience testing them all, it should be spread so evenly and so thin, it is semi-translucent. Hope that helps.

 

All ducts clean and all 3 fans working, checked already