can I use CPU thermal paste for GPU?

[E6700]

I've just finished replacing my Evga gtx 780 ti reference with the acx cooler for titan black using artic silver 5, then I ran heaven bench I see lots of artifacts and temps goes up in 80s then it crashed,I power off the system immediately. So what did I do wrong?

 

[Evilviking]

Arctic silver conducts electricity. It's not recommended. Stop using the card asap and reapply something else. Pray


Edit.. last I checked the titan black acx cooler didn't fit my gtx 780 ti... maybe something changed

 

[MongGrel]

 

[blastingcap]

as5 is electrocapacitive, not conductive, still could be a problem, I would use a normal paste like Prolimatech PK1, MX-2, MX-4, etc. which are not electroconductive or electrocapacitive.

 

[E6700]

I haven't power it back on yet. The cooler fits perfectly though. So now I have to buy new thermal paste then. Thanks

 

[mindbomb]

It's probably not a problem. The issue I think is that the die of that card is too large, so if you used cpu spread methods (small dot), it won't work well. Since you're gonna have to use more paste, the risk for overflow goes up, and you should probably get something that is safer to use.

 

[MongGrel]

as5 is electrocapacitive, not conductive, still could be a problem, I would use a normal paste like Prolimatech PK1, MX-2, MX-4, etc. which are not electroconductive or electrocapacitive.

Yeah, I've seen people say that many times in situations like this over the years.

Still.

 

[bystander36]

I've seen many posts with people who have used Arctic silver 5 on their GPU's. Tom's Hardware even tested a bunch of thermal pastes, which are also used on CPU's, here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermal-paste-performance-benchmark,3616-18.html

I'm not sure there is a difference, but their performance may differ on the GPU, as CPU's work at lower temps with different designs of HSF's.

 

[MongGrel]

Yeah and from personal experience I trashed a 4870X2 doing that once.

Have at it.

*shrug*

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I used AS5 for my x800XT PE back in the day and it worked fine.

 

[E6700]

Just got back from local Frys store picked up Thermaltake TG-3, ran a couple heaven bench test no screen tearing or artifacts this time, temps max out at 77C only 5C lower than the reference cooler, not so bad. Well I'm happy the card still working

It's probably not a problem. The issue I think is that the die of that card is too large, so if you used cpu spread methods (small dot), it won't work well. Since you're gonna have to use more paste, the risk for overflow goes up, and you should probably get something that is safer to use.

you're right, I didn't put much paste last time maybe that's why temps so high.

 

[bystander36]

Yeah and from personal experience I trashed a 4870X2 doing that once.

Have at it.

*shrug*

Is it possible you trashed your 4870x2 due to the process and not the paste itself? People have been doing AC5 on them for years. I've never heard of anyone having an issue.

 

[MongGrel]

I'd done it with pads before that, and it was working fine.

I went for round two and used AS5 ad it trashed everything I'd done before, and the card.

Was my fault I guess, had the thing working great at the time, but I just do not use AS-5 in general myself these days after that, it's pretty dated anyways.

NT-H1 usually here personally.

 

[bystander36]

I don't use AS5 either, but I've seen posts on many people with great success using AS5. Even Tom's Hardware reviewed it as an option on multiple occasions, though the one I posted mentioned it is pretty dated these days. It just seems more likely that something else went wrong, such as not using enough of it.

You mentioned using pads...are you taking about using it on the GPU itself, or the VRM's and VRAM? The pads are used for the VRM's and VRAM, not the GPU, and AS5 is definitely not used on VRM's and VRAM.