CHANGING TERMAL PADS ON ASIC

[hymperion]

hi all, since my SPX36 had some units that tended to overheat I thought I'd open it and replace the thermal paste which by now had become dry and faulty.
I used 0.5mm thermal pads as what was left of the old ones didn't seem to have any thicker. Today I put it into operation and not with a little surprise I notice that all the units go beyond 90° as if I had made the situation worse.

Di seguito le foto:




Do you think I have the wrong thickness? Or did I use the wrong material? I bought some generic pads from amazon.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me.

[hymperion]

I initially found these, I don't know if it's paste or pad

[rdluffy]

I initially found these, I don't know if it's paste or pad

This is the picture of before, right?
Looks like thermal pads

I don't know exactly what you did, but to change thermal pads, you have to remove, clean with isopropyl, apply the new ones (best if they are the same thickness as the original) and put the heatsinks with correct pressure

Did you put all the heatsinks and felt if they have total contact with thermal pads?

[hymperion]

sisi I removed and cleaned, and then applied the new ones.
The old ones even seemed thinner than the ones I've used, the contact between cooler and pad was absolutely there.

Maybe I have to try with thermal paste even if they look like pads.

[FP91G]

hi all, since my SPX36 had some units that tended to overheat I thought I'd open it and replace the thermal paste which by now had become dry and faulty.
I used 0.5mm thermal pads as what was left of the old ones didn't seem to have any thicker. Today I put it into operation and not with a little surprise I notice that all the units go beyond 90° as if I had made the situation worse.

Have you decided to use thermal pads instead of thermal paste?
What is the thermal conductivity of your thermal pads?
If there was thermal paste with thermal pads, then you need to do the same, but if there were thermal pads, then you need to use the same thickness. I usually measure it from the edge of the thermal pad that is not under pressure.

[hymperion]

I must have spelled that sentence wrong.  originally not sure if it was thermal paste or pad.  i opted for the pads of similar thickness as what was left over but evidently it was pasta.  the pads when I mounted the heat sinks were pressed well but the result was bad, I even thought about putting 0.2 pads but I don't think it would solve it.

[rdluffy]

I must have spelled that sentence wrong.  originally not sure if it was thermal paste or pad.  i opted for the pads of similar thickness as what was left over but evidently it was pasta.  the pads when I mounted the heat sinks were pressed well but the result was bad, I even thought about putting 0.2 pads but I don't think it would solve it.

I have to admit I'm confusing if it was thermal pads or paste, because you said you thought it was paste, but change to thermal pads of the same thickness 
Hehehe 
Some thermal pads can look really bad, crumbled and scratched but there's a difference between them and paste

It's weird, most of these chips are cooled with thermal pads, but if you said it was thermal paste, you should stick to original method.
Unfortunately I tried to find information or a SPX36 disassembled, but I have no luck.

I don't know if you already bought thermal paste, it's not expensive, but it's a lot of work now to remove again the thermal pads and put thermal paste on all these chips 

Keep us updated

[hymperion]

initially, at first impression, they seemed to me PAD, so I put the pads but honestly I had some doubts. Now since the pads haven't worked I'm starting to think it's actually either thermal paste so aged it's become solid.

By now I've already disassembled everything in a rage, I'll try the thermal paste which is much more hasty to apply.

Will update.
There is very little about the SPX on the net

[momanz]

I've used this https://www.amazon.com/Conductive-Silicone-Adhesive-Compound-Heatsink/dp/B07TSH6MNT/ref=psdc_3012290011_t1_B07HCDRL7W with good results on L3+ heatsinks that have fallen off. It worked well, and the heat sinks can be easily removed if you need to reposition.

Good Luck!

[FP91G]

I must have spelled that sentence wrong.  originally not sure if it was thermal paste or pad.  i opted for the pads of similar thickness as what was left over but evidently it was pasta.  the pads when I mounted the heat sinks were pressed well but the result was bad, I even thought about putting 0.2 pads but I don't think it would solve it.

If the distance is 0.2-0.5 mm, then you can use thermal paste. For longer distances, probably thermal pads will be better. Dried thermal paste and thermal pads are different when viewed from the outside. I measure the thickness at the edge of the thermal pad, because the thermal pad is generally always larger than the chip size.

[hymperion]

I put the artic MX4, I tried it for 10 minutes and it seems that the temperatures do not splash to 90°, as soon as I have the chance I mount it and update you.

thank you all

[rdluffy]

I put the artic MX4, I tried it for 10 minutes and it seems that the temperatures do not splash to 90°, as soon as I have the chance I mount it and update you.

thank you all

I like MX4, it's a good thermal paste, I usually use mx4 or arctic silver, both are enough for my use.
Good to know your problem is probably solved, just do the real tests after all mounted and post here

You can also post the temperatures before and after the repaste, you can help another person if they search on Google and find this thread in the future.
Now you know the difference between thermal pads and thermal paste 

[FP91G]

I put the artic MX4, I tried it for 10 minutes and it seems that the temperatures do not splash to 90°, as soon as I have the chance I mount it and update you.

thank you all

This is a good thermal paste, but I do not like its price lately. For non-hot graphics cards, miners usually use the Chinese equivalent of the GD 900, but if you have achieved good results with the MX4, and you are satisfied with its price, then everything is in order.
https://www.wepc.com/reviews/best-thermal-paste/

[hymperion]

For the amount I use, the price is relative, I prefer to spend a little more on the pasta and maybe not waste several hours on anything else.

[hymperion]

Here I am again, it has been working for more than 1 hour with the fans at 90% and the temperatures are stable at these values. The oc is automatic and changes frequencies automatically. Some asics are hotter than others, probably due to layout.

[OgNasty]

Here I am again, it has been working for more than 1 hour with the fans at 90% and the temperatures are stable at these values. The oc is automatic and changes frequencies automatically. Some asics are hotter than others, probably due to layout.

A couple of those bad boys are getting pretty hot.  If you're happy with it that's fine, but making sure that a good connection with the heatsinks is occurring might be a good idea.  I've never used thermal pads and have always been a paste (pasta?) guy.  It just seems to work better.  I'm glad you've come to the same conclusion (seemingly) and that you were able to get this running.  I would be a little concerned about a couple of those ASIC temps, but they seem to be in the minority so hopefully even if they do burn out you'll still be able to operate the miner fine.  Good luck!

[philipma1957]

okay so


 fans>( board 1)>( board 2)>(color=red)( board 3)(/color)>(board 4)>(board 5) > fans>



is this how they lay out?


your photo show 4 boards and 1 heat sink

I am guessing there are 5 boards and the middle board runs hot because it is not near the intake or exhaust fans


if I am right switching the center board with the first board should make the temps stay hot in the center.

if I am wrong sitting the center board the temps will stay with that board.

[hymperion]

the dissipation plates are all the same, in the photo you only see one because the others weren't mounted yet.

The fans are only in extraction.

I also have an external fan to push some air in.

The temperature of some is high because it has a higher OC, it goes automatically I think that if it had been a problem that temperature would have already decreased the MHZ.