2nd opinion - AC/thermal compound/tape

because this is technically an aircooler issue, apparently it goes in here

Ok, so i pulled my dell xps 16 apart and i was going to replace the thermal pad and cpu paste i put in there a while ago.


Click to view full size!

Click to view full size!

issue one.

can someone tell me what those 4 chips are of the left hand side (2 horizontal, 2 vert, around the GPU are? They have this sticky shit on them that is stuck on the heatsink (it doesnt feel like thermal tape - and is different to the thermal tape in the middle of the cooler). As its more like a rubber, i'm thinking its acting as an insulator rather than a conductor of heat (in which case ill leave it)

issue two

I used Arctic silver last time, and it seems to look a little watery when i've pulled it off. Does that mean i've been tight-ass with the thermal compound? Last time i just spread it evenly (and quite thinly across the entire cpu (after cleaning with alcohol). Or is it something to do with settling in the packaging?

thanks in advance
davo

 

(1) Video RAM, I think. It'll have thicker thermal pads on there because the RAM doesn't matter as much as the GPU itself.

(2) AS is meant to remain liquid. That's the big advantage of thermal paste over toothpaste (as tested at DansData). Just make sure it is actually making good contact with the core - put the heatsink on, then remove it and check that there's a solid rectangle of thermal paste imprinted on it.

 

Thanks slatye

would you recommend?

1. cleaning those with alcohol?
2. Priming with thermal compound?
3. leave untouched?
4. replace with this or this. I have both here on me.
5. other?

 

cleaning is best done with isopropal? <--- speeeling alchohol as it dries with no residue and is preety good at removing all the old sticky stuff easy then just tape away with whichever one you like both are fine

 

Are the thermal pads/tape you've got thicker than what's on there at the moment? If there's one that's a little bit thicker, I'd use that to replace the current tape. Then use normal thermal paste on the GPU itself.

 

thanks guys,

I just replaced tape with new tape. and paste with paste after giving everything a clean with alcohol.

Currently sitting on around 40 degrees. (high = 50)

Yesterday it was doing 80-90