Perhaps I didn't search well enough... removing AA adhesive.

[RainMaQer]

I want to remove my ramsinks on my GF3 and do it over... I used arctic alumina adhesive with a small amount of as3... how do I get them off again?

Also... is alumina adhesive conductive? If I get some on the mem connections will it short them out? What about when I add a small amount of as3?

By small amount I mean about as much as used to cover the die of a P3 or XP... very small amount... I used about 4 or more times as much of the adhesive though.

 

[Arcane]

hehe...i posted the same topic but in the video and sound card forums...from what i remember reading, you have to put in it the freezer for 20-30mins and use a razor or credit card to get it off...i don't know if this will work being that it's epoxy...i have a backup plan, but i'll save that in case of an emergency....keep me updated with your progress...

 

[Arkaine23]

removal

Get a big ziplock bag and stick the card in the freezer. Use a flat razor blade to cut thru the epoxy. It may take some work depending on the epoxy.... Work it gently, because if you damage the gpu you're pretty much screwed. The warranty is void if you mod the card, and ordinarily you could remove your cooling gear and hide the fact that you ever replaced the stock heatsink, however in your situation this will obviously be impossible. Next time cut the epoxy or adhesive or whatever you used with regular thermal paste... a better mix with less adhesive, or use a more ghetto technique- Use regular thermal paste and leave 2 corners of the gpu bare. Then put a drop of superglue on the bare corners and press the hsf down until the superglue sets.

AA is not conductive, but As is! You can still use it for ramsinks, but I'd mask the legs of the chips of with tape and use the AS very sparingly.

 

[Arkaine23]

ramsinks

Rain: Why? Are they not on straight or something? Do you think you'll get better results by using a different mix of thermal goo? Ramsinks don't do much to begin with, really. Blow a fan on them if you want it cooler. Unless you're gonna use bigger sinks.... But hey, I guess perfectionism is a good enough reason in my book.

The way I'd do ramsinks: Arctic alumina (not adhesive) on the ram, tape off the ram legs even though its unecessary, leave 2 corners free of goop, and put a drop of superglue on those 2 corners. Press frimly and try not to let it slip any. Removal is a snap, literally. All you have to do is give her a good old twist.

 

[RainMaQer]

Re: ramsinks

Rain: Why? Are they not on straight or something? Do you think you'll get better results by using a different mix of thermal goo? Ramsinks don't do much to begin with, really. Blow a fan on them if you want it cooler. Unless you're gonna use bigger sinks.... But hey, I guess perfectionism is a good enough reason in my book.

The way I'd do ramsinks: Arctic alumina (not adhesive) on the ram, tape off the ram legs even though its unecessary, leave 2 corners free of goop, and put a drop of superglue on those 2 corners. Press frimly and try not to let it slip any. Removal is a snap, literally. All you have to do is give her a good old twist.

I'm just asking for S&G's right now... I was going to redo them... but I need more fans anyway... and my design for the GF3 watercooling is almost done... drawing by hand sucks

 

[Arcane]

thanks arkaine23...well i'm going to probably try over the weekend maybe even tonight...if things go wrong...it's time for the backup plan!!!

 

[wildfrogman]

would submersion into isopropyl alcohal work at desolving the epoxy? and if so would it do anything else to the video card?

 

[Since87]

The circuit board itself is made of epoxy.

If you use a solvent that will will dissolve the Arctic Alumina, you will be risking damage to the circuit board.

Isopropyl alcohol is frequently used to clean circuit boards. It won't have any effect on the Arctic Alumina.

 

[Lithan]

Would goof off work?

 

[wildfrogman]

hmm, i dont want to desovle what holds my cuircut board of the video card....so probably just leave it on. Heat doesnt soften up the epoxy does it either?