Are thermal pads required to touch the heatsink for optimal cooling performance?
Are thermal pads required to touch the heatsink for optimal cooling performance?
I’m currently rewiring a used GTX 980ti and the heatsink isn’t making contact with the VRMs at all… This makes me think the VRMs were designed for passive cooling by the fans. Adding thermal pads on top of the VRMs, even if they don’t touch the heatsink, might improve heat transfer. Any suggestions would be really helpful!
Air is a very weak conductor of heat.
Limiting air movement isn't advisable.
A picture of the problem could aid in understanding the matter.