Reddit reviews Innovation Cooling Graphite Thermal Pad – Alternative to Thermal Paste/Grease (40 X 40mm)

The good news, creating my own substrate out of thermal pads and the use of a graphite pad was EXTREMELY effective, but also quite risky in the channels of the DIE and HBM. You can see closely that the silicon has chipped off after a couple of times I dug out my DIY substrate with metal tweezers. This was my resolution for about a week and you can see my largest problem here is board warp from my custom mount. I was working to fix this warping so my mounting pressure was even and this is when I was not paying attention as mis-assembled the water block mount.

Images: https://imgur.com/a/WnoHkOZ

Final Products:

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N1QZY4M Polyimide Film Adhesive Tape
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CK9SHZG Innovation Cooling Graphite Thermal Pad
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UYTTXSM Arctic - Thermal Pad 145 x 145 x 1.0 mm
  
  YMMV, I would recommend a 1.5mm pad for the surround. The channel needs to be vertically installed and 1.0mm was good for me but installation must be meticulous. Several cuts for the channels should be made to optimize single installation, correct height with no overlap and appropriate top-to-bottom coverage. Do not use a metal pick/tweezers, cut a Q-Tip at an angle to create a channel clearing device https://i.imgur.com/uvmWLrW.jpg. Protect your chip giblits with the Polyimide tape or nail polish, preferred over cutting the thermal pad, the extra pad is desired for mounting variability.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CK9SHZG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You didnt HAVE to smear it with grizzly :/

> removing the CPU cooler would scuff up the thermal paste most likely.

Stop using paste!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CK9SHZG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Works just as well and you can remove it as often as you want.

Has anyone attempted using a thermal pad like the IC graphite thermal pad?

Handy option - a thermal pad. Durable and re-usable alternate to paste.
Great if you want to practice attaching your cooler.

https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Cooling-Graphite-Thermal-Pad/dp/B07CK9SHZG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1M9MMLSGCTD2D&keywords=graphite+thermal+pad&qid=1568119585&s=gateway&sprefix=graphite+ther%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-2

This is wrong. HIDevolution and a few other laptop ODM's do Conductonaut on their 8750H MSI laptops and get great results. 7700HQ and 8850H are also 45W TDP CPU's as well and they all benefit from conductonaut or Galinstan.

The question isn't if the CPU will benefit from it, but whether the heatsink is properly designed. You can't use conductonaut on a laptop without a perfectly flat heatsink AND a solid, firm fit. You can test for fit by getting a (free) sample of Fujifilm Ultra Low Prescale from "Sensorprod" (annoying but they will usually give you a sample, then they'll ask you to be a customer, LOL), or buy the retail repacked version from IC :

https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Cooling-Contact-Analysis-Heatsink/dp/B07CKHRKHQ/

This will show you easily if you have a crappy fit or not. The problem is this stuff gets expensive.

MSI tends to use semi decent heatsinks on their laptops, so if the VRM thermal pads aren't elevating the top side of the heatsink (often this can be fixed by switching to a lower thickness pad), liquid metal can work there, but you should use some way to seal it with a barrier (15 ppi foam dams, or at least even though this isn't a dam, Kapton tape or Super 33+ tape around the CPU die.

I have no idea about Asus. It's very possible their heatsinks suck, which means unless you can mod the pressure or find out what the problem is, you need to use a thick thermal paste instead. Even a Panasonic Soft PGS+ graphite thermal pad (or this : https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Cooling-Graphite-Thermal-Pad/dp/B07CK9SHZG/ ) would do poorly for you if the heatsink/mounting sucks.

I’m done with thermal paste. I used Innovation Cooling graphite pads for my latest build and liked it so much that I bought another for my kid’s hand me down rebuild. No more sticky goo, no worry about “did I use enough”, “did I use too much”, “did I spread it around properly”, etc.

Innovation Cooling Graphite... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CK9SHZG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I had the same problem when I swapped in my 3900x a few weeks ago. My old 2700x's pins got dinged up pretty bad.

I was using a high quality TIM (Noctua) but apparently over time it just melted/glued itself to the cpu and cpu cooler and didn't want to let go.

With that lesson learned - I have since switched to using these graphite thermal pads instead of the pastes / liquids. They are not as performance capable as the best TIM but I don't overclock and just want maximum stability, so the sacrifice of O/C headroom is no big deal to me.

From Amazon "Innovation Cooling Graphite Thermal Pad – Alternative to Thermal Paste/Grease (40 X 40mm)"

I used this on my older CPU that I put to use as servers : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CK9SHZG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 I didn't feel like pasting my CPU so i just went with a pad.

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So far, slightly higher temps (about 1 degree) Which isn't worrying as the temps are really low to begin with. I'd recommend these pads to anyone at this point, especially since you can cut them to size.

Personally, I have some graphite thermal pads coming tomorrow. My thinking was that they should cover the entire IHS completely and help spread the heat away from the one hotspot under the core. I'm currently using IC Diamond, but the stuff was pretty old, and was pretty hard to get onto the CPU, since it kept just sticking to the end of the tube. I got a maximum of 75C on my 3700x with an H105, so I'm hoping that pad helps.

https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Cooling-Graphite-Thermal-Pad/dp/B07CK9SHZG

Cooler Master manufactures the Wraith cooler and the thermal paste that's pre-applied. MX-4 might be a slight bit better than the 6.5Wm/K provided by the CM stuff since MX-4 is 9.0Wm/K thermal conductivity. Not going to be much of a difference though.

I personally prefer the graphite re-usable thermal pads for stock coolers that I plan to work on more than once a year. I'm extra careful with their installation (electrically conductive, can't touch any PCB or components) and they have a conductivity of 35Wm/K, and don't ever decrease in performance or have dry out issues.

Nope, this one Innovation Cooling Graphite... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CK9SHZG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Although those you got are recommended, but I got these SIXQJZML 30Pcs 20x20x1mm Soft... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074K4CKG1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And used a pea size of this ( in the middle) to hold the Graphite in place. ARCTIC MX-4 - Thermal Compound... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0795DP124?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The Graphite though you must cut to size as well as the conductivity pads to replace the old ones if needed. A Sharp blade/scissors helps. Good luck! Works wonders.

Different deal. OP is talking about a thin sheet of graphite, which can cool about as well as high end thermal paste.

I would like to try it on my vega 56 card but i have found its measurements are:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_RX_Vega_series - 12.5×109 486 mm2
40x40 pads

So I ordered https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CK9SHZG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

thermal pad, and seems to have a really good reviews, would it be better to use that pad for the processor as well instead of the paste?

I still have an original PS4, but did it according to a PS4 Pro paste replacement youtube video.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=0LL6ZzoiR98

Only difference is used paste I already had, Arctic Silver 5, and Innovative Cooling pads (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07CK9SHZG?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title), cut to size of each memory spot.

Hey there, gonna try turning this off.

Also, this is the graphite pad I'm using: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CK9SHZG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's the one that Linus uses in his video about them so I figured it was fine to go with since he said it was decent.

https://www.amazon.com/IC-Graphite-Thermal-Pad-X40/dp/B07CK9SHZG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525214485&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=IC+Graphite+thermal+pad

saw this on linus tech tips. its like a 1 degree difference from competitive Thermal pastes like IC diamond and its only 20 dollars USD rounded ($19.99). might help?

https://www.amazon.ca/Innovation-Cooling-Graphite-Thermal-Pad/dp/B07CK9SHZG

Read up on the proper application method for the paste. I believe you need to spread a thin layer throughout.

You could try graphite pads or liquid metal instead of traditional paste. They have a higher conductivity, and thus spreads more heat. If it's the application process that has you worrying I'd go with the simple to install graphite pad. https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Cooling-Graphite-Thermal-Pad/dp/B07CK9SHZG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1538749364&sr=8-3&keywords=Ic+thermal+cpu+pad

Stupid Question on 2600X and 2700X.

As I understand it (src1, src2) the X varieties of these CPUS will attempt to overclock themselves by evaluating run time conditions, using XFR2 and PB2. PBO2 is additionally available but will void the warranty.

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Educate me if the above is incorrect.

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Questions:

• Do we (r/AMD community) have data on CPU coolers and how they influence X chip performance including the included Wraith Spire/Prism?
  
• Based on this data or general knowledge does r/AMD feel after market coolers for X models are worth the money relative the the performance gain they may bring? I will do the calculations and share back based on informal recommendations.
  
• How much extra Power in Watts is consumed by the CPU when enabling a PBO scenario v not default? One could use a ~$0.08USD/KWh model for energy cost calculation of PBO overclock per year.
  
• Are there motherboard characteristics/motherboard settings I should be aware of beyond the PWM setup if I want to attempt a PBO overclock of an X chip?
  
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  Right now the 2600X is within $20 dollars of the 2600 - so money can be spent on a separate air cooler ($10-$30) if there is some reasonable price/performance of the cooler with or without PBO. Where as the 2700X ($299) even with a recent coupon ($270) is $50 more than the 2700 ($220) which is $40 more than the 2600X ($180). The cost of the 2700X would seem to be out of line, as it essentially better binned 2600X . Again correct me about this - as it seems the 2600 line is just a 2700 with a disabled core.
  
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  Also I am seriously thinking about a 40x40 IC thermal Pad for $13 or a 38x38 TG Carbonaut pad if someone knows where they can be bought in the US market, which would come out of the cooler budget above. Convenience of not having to reapply thermal paste 24-36 months from now, and guarantee of uniformity of heat transfer would seem to justify the pad as an extra vs bundled pastes if any.

My apologies, I got mixed up with the thermal pad I’m using on my m.2 ssd.

Innovation Cooling Graphite Thermal Pad – Alternative To Thermal Paste/Grease (40 X 40mm) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CK9SHZG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fcjWBbKQC6RNY

And then I am using the SilverStone thermal pad for my 970 evo since the m.2 is smushed up against the spine of the case and can’t breathe.

go with 2700x instead of the 1900x. if you have a use case for high core count then i recommend the 2950x. but you probably don't need it because the 2700x is awesome. 2700x also has 8 cores like the 1900x but you can go am4 rather than tr4 and save money on your motherboard. you'll also have a lesser power draw and a more compact case. 850W seems more than enough i think you can downsize to 650W. i like to spend a little more on the power supply. by going 2700x i would spend some of the money saved on a higher rated power supply. also if you switch to 2700x the stock cooler is pretty based so you can save money by using it. for memory i suggest using samsung b-die it had better success with 1st gen ryzen.

here's a parts list for a decent 2700x build:

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Crossfire-Motherboard-B450-Tomahawk/dp/B07F7W5KJS

https://www.amazon.com/AMD-Ryzen-Processor-Wraith-Cooler/dp/B07B428M7F

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817151172

https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Cooling-Graphite-Thermal-Pad/dp/B07CK9SHZG

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820236027

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-970-EVO-Plus-MZ-V7S250B/dp/B07M7Q21N7

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA68V7V28503

that prices out around $1050. it does not price in a graphics card, for which the Sapphire Vega 56 card you listed is already a great pick. i think those go for around $300 today. if you can re-use your current case and already have thermal paste you can decrease the price by about $150. assuming you can get a Sapphire Vega 56 for around $300 this build prices out $1200 total.

This is a thermal pad for your CPU,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Innovation-Cooling-LLC-Graphite-Thermal/dp/B07CK9SHZG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=CX5I6O9MGV1X&keywords=ic+graphite+thermal+pad&qid=1563290889&s=computers&sprefix=ic+g%2Ccomputers%2C124&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1

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It works very well, I am using one on my FX9590 and the temps are fine.