How to clean and reapply thermal paste on ATI Radeon X1900 XTX

ID: 2527

Description: Like all graphics cards, the Radeon X1900 XTX...

Steps:

1. Start by removing the card from the PC if you haven't already.

2. The fan's power cable is located towards the bottom-left of the card.
3. Disconnect the cable from the card.
4. The cable and its connector on the X1900 are fragile. Be careful, and try not to use excessive force when removing it.

5. Removing the heatsink from the card:
6. The clamp is held on by four small Phillips screws. Remove them, then the clamp.
7. Remove the four phillips screws surrounding the clamp.

8. Separate the heatsink and the card.

9. Replacing Thermal Paste:
10. Using a Q-tip/cotton swab and rubbing alcohol, clean the copper plate that protrudes from the bottom of the heatsink.

11. Removing the heatsink's plastic cover:
12. Remove these Phillips screws.
13. Seperate the plastic cover from the metal heat sink.

14. Cleaning dust out of the heat sink:
15. Using a cotton swab/q-tip, clean the edges of the heat sink. You can also use canned air if available.

16. Using the same method that you used to clean the copper plate, clean the surface of the GPU die.

17. Re-Applying Thermal Paste:
18. Apply a small glob of thermal paste to the corner of the die, (I recommend using Arctic Silver 5) and use an index card to spread a thin, even layer of it over the surface of the chip.
19. For more detailed directions, follow our Applying Thermal Paste Guide.