Motherboard thermal pads/paste?

FL630

FL630

FL630

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Just taken my Gigabyte motherboard heatsinks off and there is some really neatly applied squares of thin TIM.

Are these usually paste or pads? I'm quite stupid and can't really tell what's best to replace with. Can it be replaced with either, and do you have any product recommendations?

Thanks!
 
Are you sure this isn't thermal adhesive tape? How were the heatsinks held on?

If the heatsinks were held down by screws or clips then you would probably need a square of thermal pad that you can cut to size then rescure the heatsinks. OCUK sell JP-P600 pads in 3 different thicknesses, check the thermal materials page

If the heatsinks were stuck down and the "really neatly applied squares of thin TIM" are evidently sticky then you'll need a square of thermal adhesive tape that you can cut to size. OCUK don't stock this at the moment so you'll need to google for it, I used Akasa AK-TT12-80.

You'll obviously want to clean off all traces of the existing TIM before putting any new stuff on.
 
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I assumed it would be tape, but it certainly feels like factory applied paste.

Heat sinks are held on with two screws in either side, they just fell off when unscrewed.

I'll try post pictures later when I get home
 
It is definitely a thermal pad, had the same on my Gigabyte motherboard. I found that replacing them with thermal paste worked as expected. I use Arctic Cooling MX-4 thermal paste for reference.

If you use thermal paste rather than getting some new thermal pads then just make sure the amount of thermal paste you apply provide sufficient coverage before you secure the heatsink with screws.
 
Here are some pics... As you can see, one looks like a pad and one looks like paste.

2015_05_30_08_52_12.jpg


I assume pads and paste can be used interchangeably? So long as it's a snug fit, a small blob should do the trick?

I only have some cheapy CoolerMaster paste here at home, I can't see the motherboard getting hot enough to warrant some posh stuff, so am I good to go?
 
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