Best heat transfer methods for processors

[tsteo77]

Although i not yet have the time/money/effort to play with thermal materials like some owners here. If i do,
i would want to use metal thermal pad https://www.webshop-innovatek.de/en/use-metal-thermal-pads-for-larger-gaps
or totally remove thermal pad/paste for the best heat transfer since direct metal to metal contact provide the best
heat transfer.

I would like to ask those who played with thermal pad/paste. Is it possible to remove thermal pads from the gpu/vram easily
and put back the heatsink on the gpu/vram without thermal pad ? I know it's possible for cpu.

 

[ragnarok95]

totally remove thermal pad/paste for the best heat transfer since direct metal to metal contact provide the best
heat transfer.

No. Direct metal to metal doesn't provide the best heat transfer because there are tiny gaps and such that can trap air and make it less effective. That's why you need thermal paste to transfer the heat from the cpu to the heatsink.

 

[tsteo77]

@ragnarok95,​

Thanks for your input, i believe everyone who like to play computer knows about such theory. How about
sharing your personal opinion regarding heatsink without thermal pad/paste ? Another one of my question is
will the heatsink able to fit nicely onto the gpu/vram if thermal pad/paste are removed ? I need answer from someone
who have replaced thermal pad/paste for their gpu.

 

[Outramkia]

@ragnarok95,​

Thanks for your input, i believe everyone who like to play computer knows about such theory. How about
sharing your personal opinion regarding heatsink without thermal pad/paste ? Another one of my question is
will the heatsink able to fit nicely onto the gpu/vram if thermal pad/paste are removed ? I need answer from someone
who have replaced thermal pad/paste for their gpu.

Like he mentioned, paste or pad is required to ensure maximum heat transfer from cpu/gpu to heatsink. Or you can try solder them together

 

[ragnarok95]

For the reasons i stated that is why i will never go without thermalpaste/pad on my CPU/GPU.

Why don't you try yourself? Remove the thermalpaste/pad and see the result yourself.

 

[tsteo77]

If only i could, thanks anyway.

 

[Mach3.2]

@ragnarok95,​

Thanks for your input, i believe everyone who like to play computer knows about such theory. How about
sharing your personal opinion regarding heatsink without thermal pad/paste ? Another one of my question is
will the heatsink able to fit nicely onto the gpu/vram if thermal pad/paste are removed ? I need answer from someone
who have replaced thermal pad/paste for their gpu.

Sounds like incredibly tight tolerances (read: $$$$$$$$$$), esp for the VRAM BGA packages. Afaik the dimensional tolerances for VRAM BGA packages aren't even tight, which is why thermal pads are used.


Next is the problem of contact surfaces, if you want to eliminate thermal interface materials, your contact surfaces have to be basically flat at the microscopic level (again, $$$$$$$$$). When you put 2 flat surfaces together, chances are you will contact weld them together.


There's also a question of whether the different thermal expansion rate will cause damage when heat is applied, because remember, you just contact welded all the components together.

 

[86technie]

Although i not yet have the time/money/effort to play with thermal materials like some owners here. If i do,
i would want to use metal thermal pad https://www.webshop-innovatek.de/en/use-metal-thermal-pads-for-larger-gaps
or totally remove thermal pad/paste for the best heat transfer since direct metal to metal contact provide the best
heat transfer.

I would like to ask those who played with thermal pad/paste. Is it possible to remove thermal pads from the gpu/vram easily
and put back the heatsink on the gpu/vram without thermal pad ? I know it's possible for cpu.

If you are worry about temp get a better case with better air flow.
High end GPU heat output will always be very hot, even if you change the factory
thermal pad to a better one it won't make a big difference.

Thermal paste wise I always use noctua HT-N1 for both CPU and GPU.
Do take note I do not recommend liquid metal or any paste/pad that can conduct electricity.
Cuz metal to metal will cause short circuit which is why thermal pads are silicone based.

As mentioned if you want better temps consider get better PC case or stronger fans.

 

[tsteo77]

Sounds like incredibly tight tolerances (read: $$$$$$$$$$), esp for the VRAM BGA packages. Afaik the dimensional tolerances for VRAM BGA packages aren't even tight, which is why thermal pads are used.


Next is the problem of contact surfaces, if you want to eliminate thermal interface materials, your contact surfaces have to be basically flat at the microscopic level (again, $$$$$$$$$). When you put 2 flat surfaces together, chances are you will contact weld them together.


There's also a question of whether the different thermal expansion rate will cause damage when heat is applied, because remember, you just contact welded all the components together.

Good explanation. May i ask what is (read: $$$$$) ?

If you are worry about temp get a better case with better air flow.
High end GPU heat output will always be very hot, even if you change the factory
thermal pad to a better one it won't make a big difference.

Thermal paste wise I always use noctua HT-N1 for both CPU and GPU.
Do take note I do not recommend liquid metal or any paste/pad that can conduct electricity.
Cuz metal to metal will cause short circuit which is why thermal pads are silicone based.

As mentioned if you want better temps consider get better PC case or stronger fans.

My system temperature are fine and stable. Just want to discuss something interesting with members here.

 

[Mach3.2]

Good explanation. May i ask what is (read: $$$$$) ?

The heatsink surface that comes into contact with the GPU die and VRAM packages basically have to be post processed individually to every single GPU board. Machine time is not cheap and it's not going to be a quick process.


Lots of custom work here which basically means $$$$$$$$. The gain in thermal performance probably can't justify such spendings.


Take a 3080 for example, you have a GPU die and at 10 VRAM BGA packages. The machinist just have to make a mistake while post processing any one of the 11 contact surfaces and he basically just scrapped the heatsink.


TL; DR $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[napoleon bohlumpar]

one silly question.................

if the CPU fan failed out of the blue................can remove the fan but leave heatsink on the CPU...........then have all the case fans blow at the heatsink................like this can work ?

 

[KleoZy]

 

[Mach3.2]

You can actually replace the thermal pads and do a copper mod (cheap) on a GPU vram since the thermal pads are usually 1-3 mm in thickness and get great result in temps but not direct contact of course thermal paste is still required. I've done it myself (pic), cost me less than $10. Vid below(not me)

Cool story, but you're still using thermal paste. OP said assuming no thermal interface materials, which can only work if there's perfect contact between the heat producing part and heat sinking part.

 

[86technie]

one silly question.................

if the CPU fan failed out of the blue................can remove the fan but leave heatsink on the CPU...........then have all the case fans blow at the heatsink................like this can work ?

No, modern processor can throttle so without CPU fan connected/failed.
The PC will be very slow than shut down when it is too hot.

 

[Hailgod]

one silly question.................

if the CPU fan failed out of the blue................can remove the fan but leave heatsink on the CPU...........then have all the case fans blow at the heatsink................like this can work ?

yess. my friend has a r5 3600 build that doesnt have a fan on the cpu heatsink. i dont know how drunk he was when he build that pc but it maxes at 65c in cinebench.
this guy did it with no fans at all, not even case fans and it worked for hours while gaming