Vid card project

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

Today I replaced the thermal grease and thermal pads on my 7800gt.  I decided to do this because the card is 2 years old therefore the stock thermal material is probably not in good shape (see the pic) and to get cooler temps.  The process took me about 2 hours, probably because I've never done it before.  I ran CoD for a couple maps to heat the card up and make the thermal material easier to remove.  Then I took off the card's fan/logo cover.  Took off the copper heatsink.  The black heatsink in the pic gave me trouble.  It used 3 push pins with prongs on them and tension springs.  I messed with it for a while but decided it wasn't worth the risk of forcing the thing off.  I think there were 2 more mosfet chips under there too.  Cleaned the bottom of the copper heatsink, the core, and the 4 mosfet chips in the pic using Arcticlean and cofee filters.  Open windows with this stuff!  I didn't at first and it made my head spin.  I replaced the thermal material with Arctic Silver Ceramique.  I did have some AS5, but read several places where people recommended against using it on GPU's.

Prior to doing this, my temps were 45C idle, and 65C load.  Currently the core is running at about 40C idle.  Have not measured load yet as the new stuff takes time to break in.

I also did this to help with overclocking.  The reference speeds for the 7800gt are 400/1000.  I bought the card clocked at 470/1100.  Prior to this fix, I was able to overclock it to a stable 475/1200 with stock cooling.  But the temps were a little high.  It would show artifacting at 480 core and the card crashed at 1240 memory.  Once the card is broken in again I'll see if I can get any better than 475/1200.

[Kitty*{MEOW}*]

your heatsink must be different' then one i have I udone the screws with springs on them and the whole fan and heatsink and all came off in 1 piece.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

Yes, mine had 4 screws with springs on the front and 2 on the back.  All 6 had to come off to remove that copper piece.  The only way to get to the front 4 was to take that face plate off.  Here's a pic with the copper piece in place with the fan face plate off.

[WildKatZ*{MEOW}*]

 

[thekatdaddy{MEOW}]

I would just ask Santa for a new one for your Bday.
I got a Hilte 2A/hr Hammer Drill and 10 lb sledge that says I can git 'r dun faster. 

Seriously, is replacing the grease a recommended maintenance? periodicity?

Thanks,
Kelly

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

Well, probably not if you're not having problems.  But I can tell you after 2 years of gaming mine was in pretty bad shape.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

Got the black one off today and took care of the 4 chips under it.