Question Have any solid dependable sites like Toms Hardware tested the Honeywell PTM7950 ?

[netman911]

Have any of the solid dependable review sites like toms hardware done a review of the Honeywell PTM 7950 thermal pads ? They are a hot topic on forums and youtube, but I haven't been able to find any dependable information, it varies depending on who you're reading or watching. Would be awesome to have one of the real pro's put the topic to rest one way or the other. Is it the ultimate solution it's being presented as on some guys videos, or not that great on other testers work, we need a solid answer on the product. Any of you fellows that know your cooling I'd love to get your experienced take on it. Is it time to put the honeywell ptm7950 on our GPU and CPU or not?

 

[Phaaze88]

Have any of the solid dependable review sites like toms hardware done a review of the Honeywell PTM 7950 thermal pads ? They are a hot topic on forums and youtube, but I haven't been able to find any dependable information, it varies depending on who you're reading or watching. Would be awesome to have one of the real pro's put the topic to rest one way or the other. Is it the ultimate solution it's being presented as on some guys videos, or not that great on other testers work, we need a solid answer on the product. Any of you fellows that know your cooling I'd love to get your experienced take on it. Is it time to put the honeywell ptm7950 on our GPU and CPU or not?

So, say you tear some of the pads for memory trying to deep clean your gpu. 😱
You measure the original pads and find out that those are 2mm thick. Ok, you get to shopping, but:
Arctic TP-1 2mm
Arctic TP-3 2mm
Gelid GP-Extreme 2mm
Gelid GP-Ultimate 2mm
Kritical 2mm
Thermal Grizzly Minus 8 2mm
... and more! Oh geez, which to pick!
Problem is, even if you see the 2mm specification, they are not the same.
There's no established testing standard between these products. Take W/mK, for example:

Spoiler

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kzGTOyCYrY

While they are talking about paste, it applies to the pads too.

So if pads behave differently with temperature and different cards(cooler mounting pressure), how do you know which one to go with?
YOU DON'T.
Some straight up get lucky with their choice. Others aren't so fortunate and go through a few or more before finally getting it right.
Some copy what someone else did for their gpu - if they can find that info - and others even manage to crack the gpu's PCB in the process...

If someone hasn't already done pad replacement with a specific card, you're kinda on your own.
Copy what another user did to a T, if you can find a guide for your specific gpu, but pad replacement is very niche.
I'd imagine some of the above is why reviewers - at least the popular ones - don't cover this subject.

Leave the original pads be, unless you absolutely HAVE to.
If cleaning the gpu, remove it from the PC and blow it out - but lock the fans down with something so they don't spin.

 

[netman911]

So, say you tear some of the pads for memory trying to deep clean your gpu. 😱
You measure the original pads and find out that those are 2mm thick. Ok, you get to shopping, but:
Arctic TP-1 2mm
Arctic TP-3 2mm
Gelid GP-Extreme 2mm
Gelid GP-Ultimate 2mm
Kritical 2mm
Thermal Grizzly Minus 8 2mm
... and more! Oh geez, which to pick!
Problem is, even if you see the 2mm specification, they are not the same.
There's no established testing standard between these products. Take W/mK, for example:

Spoiler

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kzGTOyCYrY

While they are talking about paste, it applies to the pads too.

So if pads behave differently with temperature and different cards(cooler mounting pressure), how do you know which one to go with?
YOU DON'T.
Some straight up get lucky with their choice. Others aren't so fortunate and go through a few or more before finally getting it right.
Some copy what someone else did for their gpu - if they can find that info - and others even manage to crack the gpu's PCB in the process...

If someone hasn't already done pad replacement with a specific card, you're kinda on your own.
Copy what another user did to a T, if you can find a guide for your specific gpu, but pad replacement is very niche.
I'd imagine some of the above is why reviewers - at least the popular ones - don't cover this subject.

Leave the original pads be, unless you absolutely HAVE to.
If cleaning the gpu, remove it from the PC and blow it out - but lock the fans down with something so they don't spin.

 

[netman911]

Ye that's what iv ben running into there was no answer really, everybody was getting different results, made it hard to decide what was the best approach. Guess ill stick with my artic mx6 for now. I know the liquid metal stuff is better, its just to chancy for me. One wrong move and u can fry stuff. I am going to have to redo the thermal pads on my GTX 1080 ti soon, there showing a lot of wear from me repasting the GPU, over the years. There still the factory pads came on the card what it ben 5, 6 years ago now. Only piece of computer hardware iv ever owned and used for 6 years, usually nothing makes it that long without being replaced for an upgrade. Well maybe a floppy drive back in the day might have made it that long lol. The card still holds it own, so im going to repaste it repad it, and see if I cant get another year or two out of the old boy.

 

[Phaaze88]

I am going to have to redo the thermal pads on my GTX 1080 ti soon

It isn't a necessity to install new pads. I installed a Kraken G12 on mine back in June 2020 and just left the memory naked ever since.
GDDR5 and R5X can be cooled on air alone... unlike the R6 and R6X on those newer cards.

 

[netman911]

Thats good to know I wont worry about it then, I mean its still working great with just repasting the GPU every year or so. Just with the removing and reattaching so many times and just age and dust etc., the factory pads are bit worse for wear, they were really starting to show their age. The cards got a lot of years on it now, but it still plays anything I want great. I'm going to ride it out for another generation at least. Thanks for the information.

 

[Phaaze88]

Sure thing!