Good things can be done better
With the pads, that's one thing, because good quality quickly goes into the money. Pads with 4 W/(m*k) are already used, which is good but not best. Even if they are only cents, with quantities of several hundred thousand, these are already real sums in the end that can come together. Therefore, the manufacturer has only replaced the pad on the smaller cooling frame for the VRM (pictured far left) with a better one with now 6 W/(m*k).
However, I did my measurements with the original pad, so this is an improvement in addition to the 9 degree drop so far. Up to two more degrees would still be in it, according to R&D, and I just think so now. Good pads have never hurt and because of such a small strip, no one will go bankrupt so quickly.
More cooling space for free? Almost
The entrance fee for the next small step is the equivalent of another 3 mm pad on the back between the board and the backplate. The few cents have to be in it and here, too, the manufacturer will follow up before the start of mass production. Although not as complete as I had planned, but at least they will. Let's take a look at the backplate, which was glued from the inside with a nasty plastic film.
Of course, glue is expected to stick, but what was used is malignant industrial glue of the nastest kind. I cut the area for the pad from the foil with a cutter initially clean, because film insulates and disturbs the heat flow extremely. Then I had to use a real solvent from the iron reserve to get this adhesive at all. But you can also ventilate afterwards.
The pad with its thickness of 3 mm fits exactly between the backplate and the board. The contact pressure is sufficient, but the pad does not yet create unnecessary voltages. The effect of the pad and the inclusion of the backplate as a new cooling surface is truly amazing. I measured according to different time periods and you can see very impressively how much heat the backplate of the board can still "remove" over the pad!
After only 5 minutes, the otherwise approx. 45°C warm backplate neatly with in the shop and you can also see nicely from where the heat is fed:
After only 10 minutes, the backplate has reached its "operating temperature":
After 15 minutes, the "final stage" is virtually reached and the changes are only marginal. What is most amazed, however, is the temperature of the board, which I measured just next to the hottest two VRMs! Previously in its original condition without new BIOS and pads approx. 100°C at this point (the other, even hotter measuring point is obscured by the pad), it is now almost 17 degrees less! That's half a universe in the radiator sky!
Summary
Take your time and not your life. In the end, I am divided, because I can start again for the review. As compensation and to fill the resulting review gap, there is now just this little article, which also shows that the life of an editor is not necessarily to games and hardware for lukewarm and deeply relaxed colorful pixel soup with RTX On to sip. This is really often enough hard work, which must not fail on the clock either. Editorial romance has always remained only a pipe dream.
Is it really possible to give a card like this a buying tip, or does it already exceed the limits of objectivity and impartiality? This is exactly the tightrope walk that you have to complete every day. Only if I have to be honest, the exact look is still fun again and again. And instead of a colorful sticker for the manufacturer, you reward yourself with a good drink at the end of the day. Then peace of mind is quickly restored. 🙂
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