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GPU thermal pads thread

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Decided to make a thread to share information from my own experience, and to encourage others as well, so that one day we could have one place to go for information about thermal pads thickness for specific GPU models. Searching through the internet for a bit of an info on this topic can be tiresome and not many people like to spend their time hiking through the toxic wastelands of Reddit.

So if you are a brave adventurer who decided to take your precious GPU apart to repaste and change the factory pads, skillful enough to use a caliper, please share your findings!
We all know how disturbing it is to teardown a GPU and then figure you don't have the right pads for the job, and those destroyed factory pads mostly on mosfets and VRAM might start crawling into your dreams. So let's try to maker it easier.

I'll make an example with my Asrock 6900XT OC Formula:

front(1).jpg

Purple ones 2mm;
Green 1,5mm.

back(1).jpg

It's all 3mm pads between the PCB and the backplate. The ones marked in green aren't there from the factory, but I still added them.

Before adding the pads, one should observe position of the components cooled with the pads vs. the cooler by attaching the cooler on the bare PCB and looking from the sides. There is a slight offset regarding the MOSFETs on both sides for this particular GPU.


Coming up next: Sapphire 5700XT Nitro+ in a day or two, and Aorus GTX 1060 when I finally get missing parts for another PC I don't really need.
 
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Solaris17

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You should put this in a table format imo to begin building the list and thicknesses. Then you can have links to the posts or spoilers to hide the images that give examples. Just an idea. Love the project.

Standardizing may encourage others to participate as well. Maybe encouraging participants to highlight (as you have done) the pads in question using the TPU pictures. (since most are clear and high def)
 
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You should put this in a table format imo to begin building the list and thicknesses. Then you can have links to the posts or spoilers to hide the images that give examples. Just an idea. Love the project.

Standardizing may encourage others to participate as well.
I'll make a spreadsheet, when and if there is enough input from the community.
 

Solaris17

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I'll make a spreadsheet, when and if there is enough input from the community.

If you want to head it and people try ping a mod when the time out locks your OP and we will unlock it so you can continue to edit.

For the record. I meant a table in the POST. not a google doc. That would probably turn away assistance. People dont like clicking links.
 
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If you want to head it and people try ping a mod when the time out locks your OP and we will unlock it so you can continue to edit.

For the record. I meant a table in the POST. not a google doc. That would probably turn away assistance. People dont like clicking links.
Yes, I meant the table as well, I don't like spreadsheets neither.
 

Solaris17

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Good luck this would be a valuable resource
 
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Here it is, as I've promised, Sapphire 5700XT Nitro+

front(1).jpg

Green 1,5mm;
Purple 1mm.

back(1).jpg

Only one 3mm pad at the back.
 
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Here it is, as I've promised, Sapphire 5700XT Nitro+

View attachment 293453

Green 1,5mm;
Purple 1mm.

View attachment 293452

Only one 3mm pad at the back.
I agree. This is a great contribution.

A suggestion, if I may.

Not trying to diminish anyone's intelligence here, but for clarity purposes, don't use the same color on the front pads for the back if they use a different thickness/length. I'm sure the spreadsheet should help with any confusion.
 
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The ASUS TUF/TUF OC 3090 uses 1.5, 2 and 3 mm pads.


I've had this on my bookmarks for the past couple of years, but ended up never opening my card. To be honest, I don't think I will - might just flip it sometime down the road.
 
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for clarity purposes, don't use the same color on the front pads for the back if they use a different thickness/length.
Fair point, but that's just one more reason to use purple. :D BTW, one that's about to change pads should pay attention to all details, and the difference between front and back is the crucial one. Mostly you don't need to change ones on the back, as they are always thick and won't get easily torn.
I'm sure the spreadsheet should help with any confusion.
Not enough input to make it yet.
 
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