A video card is one of the main components in the components of the system unit. That is why the article will examine in detail the question of how to apply thermal grease to the video card and what it is.
What is thermal grease
This is a special thermal interface composition with good heat-conducting properties.
When disassembling their computer in order to clean it from dust, many see a substance deposited on the chips, which can vaguely resemble toothpaste. Usually, when the moment of analysis comes, the thermal grease already acquires the consistency of dry clay, and for this reason it’s worth considering how to apply thermal grease to the processor of the video card.
Destination
Thermal grease applied to the graphics chip or processor is designed to prevent the formation of air space between the chip and the cooling radiator.
Due to its properties, thermal grease is able to increase the heat transfer capacity of cooling. This reason is not the only one for which it was recognized as the best in its field. The fact is that its inability to conduct electric current and oxidation, as well as its resistance to drying, have made it indispensable in the area where it is currently used.
How to choose thermal grease
Before you understand how to apply thermal grease to a video card, you need to select it. There are several types of thermal paste on sale that are designed for desktop computers and laptops.
In any store where component parts for a computer are sold, the named substance is also on sale. Sometimes, in addition to the video card or processor, thermal grease is given as a gift or is already inside the kit.
Usually it is sold in tubes from two 2 to 5 ml in volume, and not only foreign brands, but also domestic companies can produce it. The latter are in no way inferior to foreign competitors, and some brands even surpass them.
The most common user choices affect the following brands:
- KPT-8 is a good choice, which is presented in two versions: for plastic and metal. Despite the fact that it needs to be changed a little more often than any other thermal grease, the thermal conductivity of this substance exceeds all expectations.
- Arctic is a little more expensive than other representatives, but the price in this case is justified by quality. As an alternative, you can consider thermal paste manufacturer DeepCool, which also produces high-quality coolers for cooling processors.
What is a graphics card?
It is an integral part of the system, the purpose of which is to transfer digital data from the system memory, transmitting the image to the monitor screen.
Video cards come in two types: discrete and integrated. Discrete are called removable graphics cards, which are much more powerful than integrated ones and have their own cooling system. Integrated graphics cards, or integrated ones, can be inside the motherboard or processor. They are not as powerful as their discrete counterparts, but provide the image in the same way. The only negative is that you can not get rid of it in any way.
Structure
Answering the question of whether to apply thermal grease to the video card, you need to understand what the latter consists of:
- A video processor that performs computational work on a picture projected onto a monitor.
- A video controller whose job is to create an image in memory, process the received data from the central processor.
- Video memory - it stores information data of images coming to the display.
- Video ROM is the BIOS program media.
- The cooling system provides temperature control. It is necessary for the full functioning of the video card. According to the last component, the question arises whether it is possible to apply thermal grease to the video card. Answer: it is possible, and even necessary, since only it is able to provide heat removal from the chip, which is most susceptible to heat.
Application process
It is worth changing the thermal paste when warm air comes from the cooling fans. Usually do this once a year:
- The first thing to do is to remove all traces of the old substance. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the processor.
- Before applying thermal grease to the processor of the video card, you need to know that a large amount of it will not be needed. The video card chip is small in size, so you should approach this process slowly.
- To begin with, squeeze a small amount of substance - the size of a fingernail on the little finger - in the center of the GPU. Then you need to carefully, using a cotton pad, evenly distribute it throughout the chip so that it does not leave its border.
- Through the thermal paste, the inscriptions on the chip should be barely visible - this is what layer of thermal paste to apply to the video card best. If you apply too much of it, it will flow out, and when the time comes to change it, the leaked part will harden and prevent the radiator from being separated from the GPU.
- Do not distribute it on the surface of the chip for a long time, because it tends to freeze in air.
After thermal paste is applied to the video card, you can begin to collect the latter back. Assembly is carried out in the reverse order of how it was disassembled.
And to check the temperature of the GPU, just install a program on your computer called AIDA64. Thanks to this utility, you can find out not only the temperature of the GPU, but also the thermal state of the rest of the equipment located inside the system unit.