Painting your GPU.

[Durende]

I'm currently saving up for a new computer, and I am going with a black/blue theme. I'm going for the Asus 980 Ti Strix OC, and it's black/red. So I wanted to paint the red parts blue using heat resistant spray paint, but I've heard that you can cause damage to your GPU by dissasembling it. As long as I am careful, how big is the risk of damaging it? If it's not something I, as a total newbie (seriously, this will be my first custom built pc, and I have never tried doing anything inside the system yet), should do, or is there some other option, like getting professionals to do it?

 

[tambeshakunt]

I wouldn't do it if I was a newbie, especially risking such a high end card. Doing so will definitely void your warranty and not something we can help you with .

However, should you want to do it, there are a lot of videos on youtube. I suggest some kind of wrap rather than paint so that worst comes to worst it can easily be removed and you won't need to dismantle the gpu.

 

[gergguy]

If it were me, I wouldn't risk painting it. I'd just find a black/blue card. I think Gigabyte makes a card with a blue LED "Windforce" logo on it (if you are ok with the light in your case).

Something like this:

 

[Iamsoda]

I'm currently saving up for a new computer, and I am going with a black/blue theme. I'm going for the Asus 980 Ti Strix OC, and it's black/red. So I wanted to paint the red parts blue using heat resistant spray paint, but I've heard that you can cause damage to your GPU by dissasembling it. As long as I am careful, how big is the risk of damaging it? If it's not something I, as a total newbie (seriously, this will be my first custom built pc, and I have never tried doing anything inside the system yet), should do, or is there some other option, like getting professionals to do it?

I would not paint a GPU for first time or ever. I highly suggest doing LED light strips if you want a greater blue presence in your theme. Even if you successfully paint that GPU and everything looks/works fine, you might also risk paint flaking, because of heat over time. This will get paint chips onto other parts in your PC. Another option is to replace the GPU cooler with an after market one that matches your style. That is also a safe method.

 

[PsyKhiqZero]

What your asking shouldn't be too hard, and probably won't require heat resistant paint. I assume you mean the you want to paint the red strips on the heatsink blue. just carefully disassemble the the heatsink first, tape off the black parts, paint, then use a fine tip sharpie to draw that thin line that divides the red portion.

 

[Durende]

Thanks for the answers. I didn't choose Gigabyte's 980 Ti because I do not want coil whine, and I've seen a lot of people complain about it with that card. I don't think I'll risk disassembling it yet either, just to be on the safe side.

I might actually switch back to Gigabyte 980 Ti's. How big is the chance that I get a card with coil whine?

 

[tambeshakunt]

btw if you do want to use a wrap, I was suggesting something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gloss-Vinyl-Pearl-Bubble-1520mm/dp/B00YI29B9W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1440715478&sr=8-2&keywords=vinyl+wrap+blue.

It is for cars but it should be fine just for the shroud. No disassembly, no void warranty and completely removable. It should be ok with heat too, since it is designed to be used on cars and last years. Pretty cheap as well.

Led strips are also a neat idea.

 

[sora]

I personally wouldn't use a wrap as it may cause some heat increase.

 

[tambeshakunt]

I personally wouldn't use a wrap as it may cause some heat increase.

Sure it might do, but if it only being used a small part of the shroud...(just the accents) then I think the heat increase will be marginal.