[NBA] Thermal Adhesive Tape - From where to buy?

[Black Viper]

Assalamoalikum,

Does anybody know where I can get some thermal adhesive tape (not thermal paste) ? It is a rubber like tape which we usually see on high temp ICs. Recently my graphics card is showing artifacts with graphically intensive games, there is a series of 7 - 8 small ICs on my graphics card on which a strip of thermal tape is attached but that strip is old now and also loosing it's thickness, I think my card is showing artifacts because these small ICs lost their contact with the heat sink because if I firmly press the main heat sink with my thumb the graphics become normal and when I leave it artifacts appear again so my primary suspect is that tape.

Any advice on the issue and from where I can get some thermal tape ?

NOTE: I have checked the processor temps, they are fine and also checked it's compound so its not processor overheating.

 

[striker101]

I dont think that anyone here is selling those tape.
As a temporary solution.. why dont you put a 80mm to cool it down n also.. try to lower down the default clocks as well.
This will work as a temporary setup..

 

[KDKHAN]

I doubt you will get what you are looking for. Anyhow, make sure your GPU is dust free.
Two other options recommended by striker101 can work for you for the next few months.
Once the weather is turned into winter, it might work further for next 6 months.

 

[Black Viper]

Thanks for the answers,

The 80mm solution won't work on these cards because they are enclosed in hard plastic case. It looks like this.

The PCB look like this, not exactly mine but similar

See that strip in the front with capacitors, that strip is causing the trouble I think. As for lowering the clock I will try that but I am also looking for some permanent solution because the card is new (only 6 months old) so this heating is not good for it.

 

[mave3]

This is not such a big issue.
just try to lower the default core clocks of the GPU with Precision X and then try again.
the issue can be reslved..
not something to worry about...
and as far as the tape it concerned....its not going to be easy to find it here....

 

[KDKHAN]

There can be many reasons of artifacting not only the one you are suspecting. Have you tested the card in any other system ? If not, do it. A bad power supply can also cause such issues. Apart, you need to monitor if artifacts taking place from the very start of system or its happening after some time? If later, how long it usually takes to start ?

Open your case, install a little fan around your graphic card, ignoring the fact that card is enclosed in a plastic case, and let it run while the case is open. If you dont have a fan or unable to install it, use a pedestal fan for experiment. Now check if artifacts were delayed for some time OR not? If yes, it mean the card is overheating and this overheating might NOT be because of that strip you are suspecting. It might be bcoz of processor and HSF of the GPU.

 

[Black Viper]

The time for artifacts are random, sometimes two vertical pink lines appear on start up or sometimes pink boxes appear after running a game for some time but if I press the heat sink with my thumb on system start up the lines disappear and display becomes normal and during games I don't get enough time to press and check because after pink boxes appear the display go black for 3 - 4 seconds and then return as normal with AMD driver giving a message that the "AMD driver has stopped responding and recovered". I have tried different drivers but all of them give same message and it's not driver issue because it happens on start up too. Regarding fan method okay I'll try that today.

I have custom fan profile that is linear with GPU temp, which means if GPU temp is 60 degrees then fan speed is also at 60%, this profile was working good until now but fixing the fan speed to 80% tends to delay the artifact issue but does not remove it. I don't think its GPU because I have changed GPU paste (used Zalman zm-stg2). I have seen my GPU reaching 70+ degs sometimes but nothing has occurred but now artifacts happen around 60 degs or so besides 6970 GPU has good temp range (even over 80 degs, though its not good to have that much temps) but artifacts at 60 degs seems like something else.

I'll try your mentioned solutions. Fan and lowering the clocks.

 

[mazkraven]

Try Underclocking your card if you can and see if the artifacts disappear!

 

[awais52]

Well, the disappearance of artifacts by slight pushing of heat sink is most probably a heat transfer related issue... i had a similar situation sometime back with a previous system with a Pentium D 915... the heatsink would not seat properly in one of the holes (though it looked okay and properly seated)... i don't exactly remember the temp value but it used to be relatively high but upon applying thumb pressure, the temp of CPU would drop significantly (8-10 degrees).... the problem was partially resolved by using better thermal paste and completely rooted out after changing heat sink which would seat evenly...

In your case too, I suspect similar problem. Since u've re-applied the thermal interface material on GPU chip and given the fact that GPU temp is okay, the problem most probably lies with the interface tape that u mentioned.... Most definitely, thumb pressure on heat sink would also mate the tape with sink thereby increasing heat transfer.... u need something similar to this Thermal Interface Pads and Film Page - Dow Corning
Dow Corning is well known for heat transfer compounds... I'll try to locate anything similar to that and let u know if i succeed...
in the mean time, why dont u try an aluminium tape between heat sink and thermal tape in order to cover the air gap...that might help a little

 

[Black Viper]

Thank you awais52 and all others who gave valuable suggestions, I managed to stop the artifacts by doing these things

1) Opened side cover of my case.
2) Lowered core clock from 880 to 780 Mhz and mem clock from 1375 to 1185 Mhz
3) Increased fan speed to 80% fixed.
4) Placed a pedestal fan in front of case opening.
5) Changed the PCI-E slot of card from top slot to bottom one in order to place a marker between card heat sink and casing bottom (that marker is putting pressure on heat sink) -> Jugari Mind

Played Diablo 3, SSFXT and Max Payne 3 no issues so far but I am also searching for those thermal tapes to solve this issue permanently if you guys find something about those tapes please let me know. I also checking the card in one of my friend's system, same problem occurred and with pressing of heat sink it becomes normal.

Thanks

 

[striker101]

Thank you awais52 and all others who gave valuable suggestions, I managed to stop the artifacts by doing these things

1) Opened side cover of my case.
2) Lowered core clock from 880 to 780 Mhz and mem clock from 1375 to 1185 Mhz
3) Increased fan speed to 80% fixed.
4) Placed a pedestal fan in front of case opening.
5) Changed the PCI-E slot of card from top slot to bottom one in order to place a marker between card heat sink and casing bottom (that marker is putting pressure on heat sink) -> Jugari Mind

Played Diablo 3, SSFXT and Max Payne 3 no issues so far but I am also searching for those thermal tapes to solve this issue permanently if you guys find something about those tapes please let me know. I also checking the card in one of my friend's system, same problem occurred and with pressing of heat sink it becomes normal.

Thanks

Glad to know that your problem has solved
No need to put a Table Fan on it though .. Must be looking so awkward :-/

You can order these tapes from 'FrozenCpu.com' .. Yes, they do ship to Pakistan!
Lemme know if you are ordering them.. I might add few more for my self

 

[Black Viper]

Thanks a lot striker101,

Glad to know that FrozenCPU ships to Pakistan, I found two tapes here

1) Akasa Thermal Adhesive Tape - 80 x 80 mm Square (AK-TT12-80) - FrozenCPU.com (4.99$)

2) 3M™ 8815 Thermally Conductive Adhesive Transfer Tape - 2" x 2" - FrozenCPU.com (2.50$)

A friend of mine said that we might get some in Saddar electronics market on big shops like Axis Electronics or Allied Electronics. I'll touch them today and let you know otherwise we'll order from FrozenCPU, I'll let you know before ordering so you can add yours as well

Thanks again.