Replacing Thermal pads on GTX560 stock HSF, anyone know what thickness and area?

[jivetrky]

So I'm buying these 2x GTX 560 2GB cards: http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=703387

They have had the lid removed but I plan to put it back on to use the stock HSF's.

I was thinking I would use some of this: Akasa Thermal Adhesive Tape AK-TT12-80 80x80mm Square between the GPU die and the lid. Will that be good enough and also, is the thickness good and comparable to stock? (Like it won't have any contact issues with the lid)

Also, would this be OK to use between the RAM and the HSF
*EDIT: Silly me, shouldn't use adhesive for the RAM.

Should I just use thermal pads like these for RAM and fets?: EK Waterblocks Thermal PAD BIG 0.5 mm Thickness


And last question, anyone know the dimensions of the die? I'm trying to figure out how much stuff I will need; need to figure out the area of the die as well as the RAM and/or mosfets, etc.

EDIT: After looking at the pics again, I see the fets are under a heatsink already so I wouldn't have to worry about them.

 

[Conumdrum]

Ohh you don't want adhesive, you just want Thermal tape that is non adhesive. Otherwise you'll never get them apart again. You use Thermal PASTE for the GPU, and thermal tape in most other places.

You'll have to find more info, some might use Thermal paste on the ram, dunno.

Might have to look around to find the thickness used on those GPUs. Possibly the NVIDIA forums.

Do some looking around BEFORE doing this.

 

[jivetrky]

Ohh you don't want adhesive, you just want Thermal tape that is non adhesive. Otherwise you'll never get them apart again. You use Thermal PASTE for the GPU, and thermal tape in most other places.

You'll have to find more info, some might use Thermal paste on the ram, dunno.

Might have to look around to find the thickness used on those GPUs. Possibly the NVIDIA forums.

Do some looking around BEFORE doing this.

Yeah, I guess I wouldn't want the adhesive stuff on the RAM, but that is what I would want to put the lid back on the GPU, right?

EDIT: I guess this will be what I use for the RAM: EK Waterblocks Thermal PAD BIG 0.5 mm Thickness (assuming the thickness is OK; I'll check Nvidia forums)

 

[jivetrky]

Hmmmm, Nvidia forums are out:

Posted July 12, 2012

NVIDIA suspended operations of the NVIDIA Forums (forums.nvidia.com) last week.

We did this in response to suspicious activity and immediately began an investigation. We apologize that our continuing investigation is taking this long. Know that we are working around the clock to ensure that secure operations can be restored.

Anyone know a good alternative site to get dimensions and thermal pad thickness infos?

 

[jivetrky]

According to this guy, I could get away with not even adhering the lid, I could just use paste and the pressure of the HSF would hold it on. Any thoughts on that?

http://www.overclock.net/t/1156145/official-guide-modifying-removing-nvidia-gpu-heat-spreader-ihs

 

[Conumdrum]

Dude, that is NOTHING like what we are talking about, nothing. If you have a sponsor or plenty of money, go ahead. The chance of ruining a GPU since you really are at the lower knowledge level of this stuff is very high. Removing an IHS has a high failure rate and exposing a very very delicate silicon die. That guy is an EXPERT, like college grad. Your in 7th grade next to him. He has probably de-lidded CPUs too. And way above my level too.


Please focus on what you did wrong and buy some good paste and practice, read and learn. Instead of posting, research, figure it out and maybe we can help. If it takes 3 days of research so you feel comfortable, so be it..............................

 

[Conumdrum]

Hmmmm, Nvidia forums are out:



Anyone know a good alternative site to get dimensions and thermal pad thickness infos?

Wait till it's back up. Keep searching I guess.

You could email some of the PC places that sell thermal pads and ask what thickness they recommend.

Start with Performance PC's, they carry many thermal tapes.

And Danger Den. They are good folks and very helpful, they make waterblocks so maybe they know.

 

[jivetrky]

Dude, that is NOTHING like what we are talking about, nothing. If you have a sponsor or plenty of money, go ahead. The chance of ruining a GPU since you really are at the lower knowledge level of this stuff is very high. Removing an IHS has a high failure rate and exposing a very very delicate silicon die. That guy is an EXPERT, like college grad. Your in 7th grade next to him. He has probably de-lidded CPUs too. And way above my level too.


Please focus on what you did wrong and buy some good paste and practice, read and learn. Instead of posting, research, figure it out and maybe we can help. If it takes 3 days of research so you feel comfortable, so be it..............................

I'm not sure you understand my situation because that is EXACTLY my situation. My cards are already de-lidded, I bought them that way; I'm not doing it myself.
So basically, I'm at step 5 in his writeup. And, for the record, delidding is not brain surgery, it's just a calculated risk. The risk being that, when you cut through the epoxy on the edge of the IHS, you could possibly cut a resistor, which is so small that it would be irreparable.
I assure you, the difference is not college:7th grade.


So anyway, I have purchased cards that have already been de-lidded, I'm looking for the best solution to replacing the lids and putting the stock HSF back on the card(s). I didn't want to go through the process or re-epoxying the IHS' back on, so I thought that thermal tape was the next best option. But after seeing this example (on the same card I'm using), I thought I could consider lapping the bottom of the IHS and then using thermal paste.
BTW, I wouldn't consider doing anything to the middle part of the lid which makes contact with the die, that seems silly to me and an error on his part; there is no way to lap that and assure it's flatness. I would just lap the lower lips (The part which would normally be epoxied to the GPU package) so that it allowed the middle to sit lower and make better contact with the die without restriction from the other edge of the IHS.


EDIT: BTW, I did email Sidewinder PCs and ask them, they didn't have a specific answer but recommended that I get that .5mm Akasa tape and if it wasn't thick enough, to just put a double layer. I'd prefer an experienced, definitive answer so I'll definitely keep searching.

 

[Richierichdolla]

I think you should do what the guy did in the guide. Seems simple enough all you need is the time to do it. It is a tried and tested method.

 

[jivetrky]

I PMed that guy as well as emailing Galaxy support (which was very prompt in their reply) and they both suggested that just some thermal paste under the lid would be fine. And the guy make a good recommendation to use a little thermal tape under the edges of the IHS to make sure it stays put but yet would be fairly easy to remove again to replace the paste, if necessary.

And for the thermal pads on the RAM, im going with 1mm.

 

[jivetrky]

I actually got another quick response from Galaxy, specifically about the RAM pads and they said "any size" pads would be fine so I'm going with these: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...x_50_x_05_-_Thermal_Conductivity_110_WmK.html

They have a great conductivity rating and are perfectly sized so that one sheet will do one card's RAM.