RX 480 Disassembly, cleaning and thermal paste replacement

ID: 132635

Description:

Steps:

  1. This graphic card is really dirty, so this tutorial will show you how you can clean it and change the thermal paste
  2. WARM UP THE CARD BEFORE THE TEARDOWN. IF THE CARD IS COLD THE THERMAL PADS MAY BREAK AND YOU WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THEM
  3. Simply launch a game for a while or run a graphics benchmark to heat up the card.
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  4. Standard philips screw
  5. Once the screws are removed, simply pull the fan up, they have no cables.
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  6. Standard Philips screw, be careful as they are not the same length.
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  7. Be very gentle, you don't want to break the fan power system. You can use your nails if you're not getting it out with a tool, some twist left/right make the job DO NOT PULL FROM THE CABLE ITSELF!
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  8. I personally clean the radiator using my vacuum cleaner, but you can just use a brush if you want.
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  9. Standard philips screw.
  10. The radiator can feel "glued" to the card, don't hesitate to use a bit of muscle to separate them.
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  11. Put some 70-90% alcohol, wait a bit for the thermal paste to get wet, then clean with a piece of makeup cotton, repeat until you get a proper result like in the third pic.
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  12. Clean with a Q-tip filled with alcohol
  13. Put some alcohol on the gray chip, wait for the paste to get wet and clean with cotton.
  14. Don't worry, alcohol is non conductible and will not damage your card.
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  15. Do not hesitate to apply a bit more than me.
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  16. You're done! Time to reassemble.
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