Graphics Card Thermal Paste Query...

[Ad1tya]

Hey guys...

Is it safe to use AS5 on the Graphics Card core?

Ive just about purchased Water Cooling...
The MCW60B, is my Water Block....

Ive ordered AS5... Now, can i Use it on the Core?
Or should I purchase some Ceramique?
Since, AS5 is Conductive, and I remember, that my friend, use a Electricity Conductive Thermal Paste, on his 6800, and screwed it up :(.

So, what should I do?

[Pied]

i use as5 on my card. just don't put too much

[Scarlet Infidel]

Im going to use AS5 on mine, i have liquid metal for the cpu but i wouldnt use that on the graphics card.

Im pretty casual about conductive pastes (since they are the best generally speaking), as long as you are careful i cant see a problem.

[Ad1tya]

So it should be applied only on the Core inside?

Like here only?

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5656/116230zw.jpg

Or in the whole thing?

[Aerou]

So it should be applied only on the Core inside?

Like here only?

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5656/116230zw.jpg

Or in the whole thing?

I've got some AS5 on a watercooled X1800XL, I've put a very thin film just on the core, just like that ...

[Nettwerk]

So it should be applied only on the Core inside?

Like here only?

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5656/116230zw.jpg

Or in the whole thing?

yup just spread a thin layer all over the core that is in the square

[Jochenp]

AS5 isn't conductive, only slightly capacitive

[Ad1tya]

Okie thanks :D.

[SiGfever]

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm :fact:

[Kain XS]

Yes, just put a small drop.
Im using it like that and all is working properly with the Maze 4

[Stigma]

Put only on the core (the black area that you pointed out). putting thermal paste on the other area around will have no meaning. Heat isnt produced there, and netiher will it make contact with the heatsink either.

Additionally, AC5 can create shorts in circuitry even though it isn't conductive, because it is capacitive. in oter words, you genereally DON'T want AC5 to get on your electronics, and those ICs around the core would likely not react well to AC5. I have shorted circuits myself with AC5 (no permanent damamge sustained thankfully), but generally you need to be careful with it.

If you put it on the core tho, it dont drip or more or anything, and so is completely safe to use. Just be a little careful when applying it so it dosn't everywhere its not supposed to go =)

-Stigma

[Stigma]

AS5 isn't conductive, only slightly capacitive

But it will still end up shorting circuits that are close together, so in actual use it amounts to the same thing. For all intents and purposes, AC5 should be treated as electricly conductive, otherwise you are gambling with your hardware.

-Stigma

[doc6886]

Do you guys spread the AS5 with a sandwich bag? Like put your finger inside the bag that way? I tried that way and find it's better than what AS5 instructions say (they say use the edge of a card like a credit card).

[[XC] DragonOrta]

I usually rub some into the block or heatsink using a plastic bag before putting a drop onto the core. But the Ceramique I use usually gets a grayish color when I rub it in. :shrug: I'm not sure what that's all about.

[Reinvented]

I usually rub some into the block or heatsink using a plastic bag before putting a drop onto the core. But the Ceramique I use usually gets a grayish color when I rub it in. :shrug: I'm not sure what that's all about.

It's supposed to do that. ;)

[Kain XS]

I just put it as the instructions say.
Put a small drop in the center of the core and let the Heatsink do the job ;) (Spread it when you install it maing pressure)

[Ad1tya]

It would be a better option to use Ceramique though, right?

I mean, if it does get to the SMD Capacitors, next to the core, there wont be a chance if it shorting out, right?

[Kain XS]

It would be a better option to use Ceramique though, right?

I mean, if it does get to the SMD Capacitors, next to the core, there wont be a chance if it shorting out, right?
Right. But, if you apply a small drop (as arctic silver instructions say) then, the thermalpaste will not probably go outside the core.

[einCe]

put a bb sized drop and put the block on, it will spread itself