I know it is possible to remove the heatsink from a video card.

Once it is removed, let's say because I wanted to put a new heatsink or change the thermal compound/pad, how do I "glue" the the new heatsink to the chip?

The point is that the thermal paste isn't enough to keep the heatsink attached (obviously). Is there any stuff out there used to do this? maybe not expensive?

Lots of you here have already done this before, could you tell me how to proceed?

Thanks

You could use a termal adhesive, like the one from Arctic, but why not use the mounting holes on the card's PCB to attach the heatsink of a new VGA cooler that has mounting clips? Something alike Titan's CUV1AB should do the trick ... This one is what I will fit onto my Voodoo 4 when I will have spare money to buy it  :)

Yes, thermal adhesive or a thermal pad is the key. ;) You don't need the expensive stuff from arctic silver, the zalman adhesive does the trick, too, and costs only 2 or 3 euros at ebay.

@LuxKiller65,

Spread a very thin layer of thermal compound over the gpu but leave the corners clean, then you can put 4 small drops of crazy glue (one in each corner), align and firmly press on your heatsink, hold it for a minute and your done  ;D

Works like a charm  ;)

wrote on 21.07.05 at 14:01:19:

@LuxKiller65, Spread a very thin layer of thermal compound over the gpu but leave the corners  ;) in each corner), align and firmly press on your heatsink, hold it for a minute and your done  ;D Works like a charm  ;)

I have done this process and it worked well for me too  ;)

Thanks for the advices.
I just bought some thermal pads, they are T725 material from Chomerics

(http://www.chomerics.com/tech/testreportdocs/t725_application_notes.pdf)

Will these pads be all right as thermal pads to fix the heat, or do I still need some pawa glue?
Actually the V4 heat isn't attached to the PCB?!

???

ALL thermal pads suck! Modders know this and usually don't use them! >:(

Best is a mix of silver CPU compound and epoxy! 8)

Quote:

ALL thermal pads suck! Modders know this and usually don't use them!

Yep,  I prefer to use Arctic Silver Ceramique and a few drops of crazy glue.

I just hotrodded a buddy's geforce2 ultra using this method with the gpu and ram sinks and he can now get to 280 mhz gpu/500 mhz ram, stable as a rock.

I was kinda hoping it was going to go up in smoke as he kept  raising the mhz   :D ;D

I hate Nvidia cards
;)

wrote on 21.07.05 at 23:30:30:

ALL thermal pads suck! Modders know this and usually don't use them! >:( Best is a mix of silver CPU compound and epoxy! 8)

Agreed ;) Go with this method...


Quote:

Yep,  I prefer to use Arctic Silver Ceramique and a few drops of crazy glue.

You know, I use a PII 333MHz, a PIII700MHz and have a V3 and a V4...

Won't really see any difference betweem pads and paste!

(Been looking for info on thermal materials for two days)

:)

Anyway, do I get something "better than how it was at the beginning" if I remove the heatsink from a V3/V4, put a new pad and put back the same heatsink?
(Strange ideas I have lately... might be that aliens' thread)

1. Remove heatsink.
2. Clean off crappy old glue.
3. Sand down heatsink with fine grit sandpaper.
4. Apply silver-epoxy mix to GPU.
5. Apply heatsink.
6. Leave to dry overnight.

DONE! ;D

I really like thermal pads...

;D

wrote on 22.07.05 at 21:27:41:

I really like thermal pads... ;D

You know, on second thought, I think you'll be happier with thermal pads :-X


;D

Yes, I and thermal pads were meant to meet one day...

I am happy to see that we managed to keep our sense of humor ;D

I seen too many heated threads lately.

Don't forget to return to this thread and let us know how you made out.

Yey, sometimes we get upset and misunterstood...

Well, for the moment I'm cleaning the case, the motherboard and the power supply unit (I know, opening the PSU isn't recommended).

Took me one day to open, clean and close the PSU! D*mn ugly Compaq PSUs...

Anyway, I think I'll remove the heatsink someday from my V3 and V4.

What is best? put the card in the fridge (freezer?) for how long?

???

I usually leave the card overnight... ;D
...then have a small flat ended screwdriver handy in the morning. ;)
Take the card out of the freezer and quickly (but carefully) lever the heatsink off using the screwdriver. :D
Then starts the LONG process of cleaning the heatsink... :P
...stanley knives and sandpaper at the ready! ;D

wOOt!

I'd better leave my cards like they are now...

:-X

20-30 minutes are enough. If the heatsink doesn't pop down easily after that time one night won't do it, too.
My advice is: put some piece of cardboard between the PCB and the flat screwdriver so if you lever the heatsink the screwdriver won't harm the traces on the PCB.

What can I put for an heatsink, to replace the microscopic one that comes on a V4 4500? I have a huge one from Foxconn... too huge!

;D

I put my Radeon 9500 PRO in the freezer for 3 days, as I totally forgot about it!  :o

However, no harm was done and the heatsink snapped away easily.  ;)

Have a look at this for a heatsink!  With a name like ZALMAN, you really can't go wrong!  :)

http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/product.php?productid=18549

freezer works every time, i do 45 minutes but ppl's times vary, i never use a screew driver but many do, i put the heatsink in the vise and turn card to side and it pops right off, ive done this to 4 v5's and several v4's never a problem, whatever way you use be careful and go slow, good luck.

Yeah, like BFG3dfx said.  :)  Take your time, patience is the key.  :)

But if you leave it in long enough, it should be easy enough to remove the heatsink within your hands.

Don't worry about it, I have found it takes more than you think to actually damage the card in such a way, either by freezing/heating or grappling with the heatsink to get it off.

More cards get damage while removing the old heatsink, not by the freezing process...


Quote:

Take the card out of the freezer and quickly (but carefully) lever the heatsink off using the screwdriver.

I myself, broke a trace once on a V3 2K using a screwdriver. I was able to repair it with a rear window defogger repair kit from the local auto parts store ;) They also make a conductive pens for this type of repair. http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/8420p.html The V3 didn't warrant the investment of the pen.

nice one gamma, very inventive ::)

I plan to remove the heatsink and the fan from my V4. I'd like to replace them by only a heatsink. Will I have overheating problems or will it be all right if I put a nice heatsink?
Is there a problem if I unplug the stock fan? Or will the card run fine even if nothing is plugged?

Okay, removing the stock heatsink of my V4 was scary but successful.

::)

Now, what the hell am I gonna use to remove the glued from the GPU? I tried 94% alcohol (that's what I use everywhere for everything), then "essence de térébentine" (don't know the English name), which is really powerful, but didn't work neither...

On Tennmax's site, they suggest some "carburetor cleaner", with "toluene, MEK or xylene".

Huh?

P.S. What are the compatible heatsink to use on a V4, which DOES have two screwholes? Some proper cooling will be needed now, mainly noiseless please!

;D

And thin, 'cause there isn't much space in a Compaq Deskpro SFF...

double  ;D