Purchased a fresh monitor, but GPU fails within moments of launching the game.
Purchased a fresh monitor, but GPU fails within moments of launching the game.
It's possible the reason lies there. Did you remove it once it was first put together to verify the die spread? I’d expect the old pads to no longer make proper contact because of how they’re compressed.
I've mostly resolved the issue, though the performance remains similar to before. Both screens frequently disconnect, and during the first boot I had to reinstall the drivers. After a crash due to connection loss, it seemed the drivers were lost again. It turns out the thermal paste I applied leaked and caused shorts in the small capacitors near the die. I'm pretty sure this short circuiting, along with possible data corruption, is linked to the driver reinstalls and maybe some unintended interference. I'll attempt a fresh build tomorrow to check for further fixes. I'm also ordering replacement 2mm thermal pads to swap out the current ones. I still intend to file a return merchandise authorization since it's still under warranty, and I don't feel confident about its long-term reliability. (Also, rust is developing behind the faceplate on the output pins.)
I tried the arctic MX2i paste; I’m unsure if it conducts electricity, though the marketing claims it works well with GPUs. If they don’t offer an RMA, I’ll clean thoroughly and try to restore it fully. Regarding alternatives to isopropyl and brushes—there are other methods you might explore.
It seems everything came to a close by drying things out. I just tested a 1440p furmark and it failed at 63c! This makes the decision to buy non-conductive paste and new pads feel pointless. I might use them, but now I’ll be extra cautious. Updated: Anno 1800 in 1440p with 120Hz medium doesn’t pass 42c even with a larger zoom out setting. It looks like my issues are resolved.