This will be the 3rd time I've applied thermal paste to the 6800XT on this computer. The process takes a minimum of 2 hours and this time took just over 3. I figured I'd document it this time so in case I run into problems again, it will be easy to ask for help.
My issue is that the hot spot temps max out in Flight Simulator 2020 VR and the GPU has to thermal throttle. It's a MSI Radeon RX 6800 XT Gaming X Trio with an Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-A water block. I use this computer strictly for VR gaming with a Valve Index and hot spot temps do not max out with any other game.
I tried contacting Alphacool about the issue and for clarification on their installation instructions. I wanted them to elaborate on the screw tightness since the instructions only say "hand tight". They are also spring screws so I wasn't sure if I needed to bottom them out or leave a few turns in them so the springs aren't fully compressed. They responded saying AMD 6000 cards have hot spot issues and didn't elaborate on my screw question
Starting with fully disassembled and cleaned components:
View: https://imgur.com/HSQFQeo
View: https://imgur.com/XmVlXy3
View: https://imgur.com/n13DP66
I first placed 1mm thermal pads on the water block. These are Kritical Extreme Conductivity thermal pads rated at 20 W/mK. There is one gray thermal pad in the upper left corner. When I pulled the block off, the old 1mm pad in that spot looked perfectly fresh with no marks on it. I figured it wasn't making contact so instead of using another 1mm pad I used a 2mm pad. What I had on hand was Gelid GP-Extreme 12 W/mK.
View: https://imgur.com/NBDMODF
Then I applied thermal paste to the GPU. The instructions call for an even application less than 1mm thick. I hate applying paste this way because of how all those folds potentially create air pockets. That's what I suspect the problem was last time. This time I used Gelid GC-Extreme paste.
View: https://imgur.com/vXMxo5w
Screws are tightened by turning each 1 turn at a time in a cross pattern. They are all as tight as I could make them with my mini screw driver.
View: https://imgur.com/MF1MJ1h
View: https://imgur.com/azbGLxq
Back plate installed in same fashion. I reused the Gelid GP-Extreme 3mm pads for the back plate. The close up edge shots are to show there is no bowing or bending.
View: https://imgur.com/2FfxKEm
View: https://imgur.com/zbEzGSY
View: https://imgur.com/qgsKbsX
Close up of the 2mm pad to show it is now making good contact.
View: https://imgur.com/LO4xb69
After refilling the water and "agitating" the computer a little to knock the bubbles free, I fired up Heaven benchmark for about 20 minutes and got the lowest temps so far.
View: https://imgur.com/Avw687Q
Then for the ultimate test I loaded up FS2020 and flew around for about 30 minutes. The temps did great! Nice and cool, WAY below the 110C thermal throttle point. So far it seems to be working perfectly but I've been in this position before. If temps rise again I'll come back to this thread.
View: https://imgur.com/UlkR2gt
My issue is that the hot spot temps max out in Flight Simulator 2020 VR and the GPU has to thermal throttle. It's a MSI Radeon RX 6800 XT Gaming X Trio with an Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-A water block. I use this computer strictly for VR gaming with a Valve Index and hot spot temps do not max out with any other game.
I tried contacting Alphacool about the issue and for clarification on their installation instructions. I wanted them to elaborate on the screw tightness since the instructions only say "hand tight". They are also spring screws so I wasn't sure if I needed to bottom them out or leave a few turns in them so the springs aren't fully compressed. They responded saying AMD 6000 cards have hot spot issues and didn't elaborate on my screw question
Starting with fully disassembled and cleaned components:
View: https://imgur.com/HSQFQeo
View: https://imgur.com/XmVlXy3
View: https://imgur.com/n13DP66
I first placed 1mm thermal pads on the water block. These are Kritical Extreme Conductivity thermal pads rated at 20 W/mK. There is one gray thermal pad in the upper left corner. When I pulled the block off, the old 1mm pad in that spot looked perfectly fresh with no marks on it. I figured it wasn't making contact so instead of using another 1mm pad I used a 2mm pad. What I had on hand was Gelid GP-Extreme 12 W/mK.
View: https://imgur.com/NBDMODF
Then I applied thermal paste to the GPU. The instructions call for an even application less than 1mm thick. I hate applying paste this way because of how all those folds potentially create air pockets. That's what I suspect the problem was last time. This time I used Gelid GC-Extreme paste.
View: https://imgur.com/vXMxo5w
Screws are tightened by turning each 1 turn at a time in a cross pattern. They are all as tight as I could make them with my mini screw driver.
View: https://imgur.com/MF1MJ1h
View: https://imgur.com/azbGLxq
Back plate installed in same fashion. I reused the Gelid GP-Extreme 3mm pads for the back plate. The close up edge shots are to show there is no bowing or bending.
View: https://imgur.com/2FfxKEm
View: https://imgur.com/zbEzGSY
View: https://imgur.com/qgsKbsX
Close up of the 2mm pad to show it is now making good contact.
View: https://imgur.com/LO4xb69
After refilling the water and "agitating" the computer a little to knock the bubbles free, I fired up Heaven benchmark for about 20 minutes and got the lowest temps so far.
View: https://imgur.com/Avw687Q
Then for the ultimate test I loaded up FS2020 and flew around for about 30 minutes. The temps did great! Nice and cool, WAY below the 110C thermal throttle point. So far it seems to be working perfectly but I've been in this position before. If temps rise again I'll come back to this thread.
View: https://imgur.com/UlkR2gt
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