yesssssss i removed that god awfull shim from my powercolor pro :P

ViRuS2k · May 2, 2003, 02:07 PM

took some work to remove that glued down SOB ;p

i used wd40 hehe to remove the TIM from the heatsink came off pritty easy
then i let it lie for about 1 hour to remove mousture.

then i lapped the sink with as3 and the gpu with as3.. put it back on installed it.

befour the shim was removed - 351 core 342 memory

and after

370 core 342 memory.........

as you can see this is with stock ATI defaul hsf with no ram sinks i gain a big boost

artifact free

so after all removeing the shim realy helps in leaps and bounds /.

apotsi · May 2, 2003, 02:29 PM

WD40 ??? What is that? I live in Greece and I haven't encountered such a product here. Could you also post some pics of the procedure ??? And which powercolor pro, BTW ??

Vampyromaniac · May 2, 2003, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by apotsi
WD40 ??? What is that? I live in Greece and I haven't encountered such a product here.

http://www.wd40.com/Brands/wd40.cfm

MDboyz · May 2, 2003, 05:15 PM

Yeah, I gain a lot after taking out the ATI shim and put some AS3 on it. Nice work!!!

ViRuS2k · May 2, 2003, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by apotsi
WD40 ??? What is that? I live in Greece and I haven't encountered such a product here. Could you also post some pics of the procedure ??? And which powercolor pro, BTW ??

Vampyromaniac thx

yeah wd40 removed the yellow goop what i did was used a razorblade and beingcarefull sliced the yellow stuff off the sink and then used wd40 to remove it completely. then i let the heatsink sit outside sunny day LOL for the wd40 moister to vanish

then i used as3 on the gpu then i carefully placed the heatsink back on then took it off again and then i got my lineing on the heatsink where the gpu would touch and placed some articsilver 3 on the heatsink aswell and then i put it back on and all is well

the powercolor is a Ati 9700 Pro Evil commando 2 128DDR

sorry i cant produce pictures i dont have a digi camera but im shure there are guides on the net it was a guide that i followed with pictures but i cant remember the link :/

May 3, 2003, 03:41 PM

and io bet you didnt see too much of a performance boost there did you? its mostly the ram speed that really makes teh card go faster. But still... good job!

scollops · May 8, 2003, 11:35 AM

HMMM wish mine worked - I have a 3D connect 9700 pro - gently eased off the shim applied as3 and re-assembled - booted up get one long beep two shorts - cheksum error no video output . Guess my cards gone to the big graphics bod in the sky - Â£300 down the pan for trying to be a smart ass.

WyreTheWolf · May 9, 2003, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scollops
HMMM wish mine worked - I have a 3D connect 9700 pro - gently eased off the shim applied as3 and re-assembled - booted up get one long beep two shorts - cheksum error no video output . Guess my cards gone to the big graphics bod in the sky - Â£300 down the pan for trying to be a smart ass.

Scollops...

AS3 is highly conductive, your GPU might just be shorted out... Remove the HSF from the core... and clean every single bit of AS3 out... a really good cleaning.

Use standard regular every day silicon (non conductive) white grease... put it back together.

If you removed the shim.... make damn sure that you use a very minimal amount of grease.

Reassemble the entire thing. And try it again... you may have lucked out, and not fried it. If you have actually fried it... My deepest sympothies.

BUT THERE IS STILL HOPE!

Give it a try, and come back and tell me what happened.

Wyre

scobywhru · May 9, 2003, 06:15 AM

Better then what I did to my 9700

http://forums.viaarena.com/messagevi...threadid=34715 for the story

Paraphrased I burned the AGP slot with a leak that sprung up do to bad waterblock manufacturing, took my 9700 with it, was able to rewire the pins that were burned around to the back of my MOBO and its working again

thought I made a new keychain to go with my Voodoo3

Moral: Never pet a burning dog

scollops · May 9, 2003, 12:50 PM

WyreTheWolf - cheers for the info - gonna attempt later today, although I have noticed something I didnt before which probably means is busted - whilst taking the shim off looks like I have nicked the block the shim sits on. There appears to be tracks on this - an if I have sliced one am guessing thats the problem - but firstly try the clean everything up option and see what happens - gut wrentching feeling coming this card may be in the bin soon.........

scollops · May 12, 2003, 10:07 AM

Well its dead ......

Looks like I nicked the block the shim fits on - tried the grease, think I see a blue flick of light when it boots - so am guessing its a short so no hope there

so gotta dig deep

and get a 9800 now

bring it on

BWX · May 12, 2003, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scollops
Well its dead ......

Looks like I nicked the block the shim fits on - tried the grease, think I see a blue flick of light when it boots - so am guessing its a short so no hope there so gotta dig deep and get a 9800 now bring it on

The "block" the shim sits on...hmm..

Do you mean the GPU?? The actual GPU is chipped? Or one of those transistor/capacitors that are next to it? Just wondering, because I am most likely going to try to remove the shim from mine sometime soon-

scollops · May 12, 2003, 10:31 AM

THe GPU sits in the middle surrounded by tiny PCB thingies - they all sit on the main block which the SHIM is glued too - this is what your trying to take off (the him that is) - just be careful it appears there are tracks on this block and if you happen to nick it - you may have similar prob - but just take your time and should pop off. (He says just throwing his in the bin angrily...)

BWX · May 12, 2003, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scollops
THe GPU sits in the middle surrounded by tiny PCB thingies - they all sit on the main block which the SHIM is glued too - this is what your trying to take off (the him that is) - just be careful it appears there are tracks on this block and if you happen to nick it - you may have similar prob - but just take your time and should pop off. (He says just throwing his in the bin angrily...)

OIC- you dinked the pcb- while prying off the shim.

WyreTheWolf · May 16, 2003, 06:41 AM

What part of the video card is fooked?

I made this pic to illistrate what the names of all the parts are.

Should help some.

I think you are trying to say that you scratched the GPU Substrate... but I could be incorrect.

digitalwanderer · May 16, 2003, 07:21 AM

Dumb question...but is that a 9700 Pro without the heatsink on?

Dumb question #2....is there REALLY an advantage in taking the shim off? What did the consensus of opinion turn out to be on that around here?

Quote:

Originally posted by WyreTheWolf
What part of the video card is fooked?

I made this pic to illistrate what the names of all the parts are.

Should help some.

I think you are trying to say that you scratched the GPU Substrate... but I could be incorrect.

WyreTheWolf · May 16, 2003, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by digitalwanderer
Dumb question...but is that a 9700 Pro without the heatsink on?

Dumb question #2....is there REALLY an advantage in taking the shim off? What did the consensus of opinion turn out to be on that around here?

Hey Dig, I will do my best to answer your questions.

A #1

Yes, this is a Radeon 9700 Pro with the HSF removed. (NO WAY that it would run this way... it has been removed to show the core)

A #2

The shim is a little taller than the core. By removing the shim, the HSF is able to make a more solid contact with the core. (It is required when removing the thermal pad, and replacing the thermal pad with real heatsink paste)

Any other questions?

BWX · May 16, 2003, 08:06 AM

Does anyone know what kind of material or glue is holding the shim on the GPU substrate? I really think the reason why ATI incorperated the difference in height between the surface of the GPU and the shim is because they use a relatively thick thermal pad-

I would really like to take the shim off of there on my 9700pro so the HSF makes better contact with the GPU and so I can use a better thermal conductive paste, but I don't want to risk damaging the substrate.
Is there any well known, proven method of getting the shim off without damaging anything?

WyreTheWolf · May 16, 2003, 09:01 AM

http://www.overclockers.com/articles714/ hope that helps you out some....

WyreTheWolf · May 16, 2003, 09:02 AM

I think I am going to leave the shim on my new card.... more details on that later ... but instead of actually removing it... I am going to lap it down to the same depth as the GPU core.

BWX · May 16, 2003, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by WyreTheWolf
I think I am going to leave the shim on my new card.... more details on that later ... but instead of actually removing it... I am going to lap it down to the same depth as the GPU core.

Wouldn't the file dust (conductive I imagine) coming off while lapping be more of a danger than the risk of just taking it off?- I mean your warrantee is toast either way. I'm going to read that article now- maybe that will convince me otherwise- thanks.

WyreTheWolf · May 16, 2003, 10:01 AM

That is what pure alcohol is for... clean it completely... and all done... Some shims were made of metal, others were made of mica... If it is mica then you dont have to worry about shavings, and dust. The metal ones... probably better to remove those and then lap them down, or just leave them removed.

BWX · May 16, 2003, 11:30 AM

You are referring to denatured I am guessing right? Or can you use isopropyl too? I always wondered about that- I have isopropyl, but not denatured- (even tho isopropyl is a form of denatured, I think) What do you use?

digitalwanderer · May 16, 2003, 02:46 PM

Me wife just brought me home a bottle of 100% pure acetone last night....there's advantages to having a wife who's a pharmacist that I keep forgetting about.

digitalwanderer · May 16, 2003, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WyreTheWolf
I think I am going to leave the shim on my new card.... more details on that later ... but instead of actually removing it... I am going to lap it down to the same depth as the GPU core.

Yeah, I remember what it is and what it does....I just thought I remembered a few people who took it off who hosed their OCing by doing so and was wondering if'n anyone knew if it was a GOOD THING(tm) to do or not?

megatron · May 16, 2003, 03:23 PM

I never removed the shim but I filed down the heatsink where it made contact with the shim, wasn't all that convincing but my 9700pro o/c to 369/337 with ACII. Been like it since December.

BWX · May 16, 2003, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WyreTheWolf
I think I am going to leave the shim on my new card.... more details on that later ...

Do you mean more details about doing it or more details about why your not going to take opff the shim? I am really thinking about doing it- I have a 60x25 fan strapped on the thing right now but I can't help thinking it's running way hotter than it has to be- I really wnat to pop that shim off and put some nice as3 on there- I KNOW it would run better if I don't wreck the card in the process. I think the new cat 3.4's push the gpu harder- I get better scores with a lower clock than with the 3.2's soft modded- PLUS I see artifacts on lastgame test of 3dmark01 at 338/338 when I used to be able to run it at 344/344 and higher- Unless the weight of the fan is separating what little contact the heatsink has w/ the gpu in the first place..

I think I need a better PSU.

BWX · May 16, 2003, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WyreTheWolf
What part of the video card is fooked?

I made this pic to illistrate what the names of all the parts are.

Should help some.

I think you are trying to say that you scratched the GPU Substrate... but I could be incorrect.

Would white goop be alot safer than AS3 to use on the gpu- for instance, I KNOW if AS3 got on those resistors it would be all over, but wouldn't white goop short them out too? Or is it so non-conductive that you could actually make a mistake and get some on there without affecting anything? Does anyone know for sure?

tek · May 17, 2003, 04:01 AM

BTW: What's a shim and why would you want to remove it

WyreTheWolf · May 17, 2003, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BWX232
Would white goop be alot safer than AS3 to use on the gpu- for instance, I KNOW if AS3 got on those resistors it would be all over, but wouldn't white goop short them out too? Or is it so non-conductive that you could actually make a mistake and get some on there without affecting anything? Does anyone know for sure?

The white thermal grease is non conductive. I would not suggest using Arctic Silver... unless it is the new stuff that they came out with that is non conductive.

Quote:

Originally posted by tek
BTW: What's a shim and why would you want to remove it

Look at the picture that I posted. Do you see the GPU shim? The shim was put there by ATi to protect the core from cracking (think older model Athlon) and to protect everything on the GPU Substrate. The shims job is to protect everything that is between the GPU substrate, and the HSF.

Now... on to the reason for removing it.

The Shim is thicker than the GPU core... so the HSF never really makes a good hard contact with the GPU core. By removing the standard thermal pad (and using standard grease), and removing the shim... the HSF can now make far better contact with the GPU core... therefore lowering temperatures.

May 9, 2003, 06:15 AM	#9
scobywhru DriverHeaven Senile Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Penthouse Basement Posts: 619 Rep Power: 0	Better then what I did to my 9700 http://forums.viaarena.com/messagevi...threadid=34715 for the story Paraphrased I burned the AGP slot with a leak that sprung up do to bad waterblock manufacturing, took my 9700 with it, was able to rewire the pins that were burned around to the back of my MOBO and its working again thought I made a new keychain to go with my Voodoo3 Moral: Never pet a burning dog __________________

May 16, 2003, 08:06 AM	#18
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Does anyone know what kind of material or glue is holding the shim on the GPU substrate? I really think the reason why ATI incorperated the difference in height between the surface of the GPU and the shim is because they use a relatively thick thermal pad- I would really like to take the shim off of there on my 9700pro so the HSF makes better contact with the GPU and so I can use a better thermal conductive paste, but I don't want to risk damaging the substrate. Is there any well known, proven method of getting the shim off without damaging anything? __________________

May 16, 2003, 02:46 PM	#24
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Acetone Me wife just brought me home a bottle of 100% pure acetone last night....there's advantages to having a wife who's a pharmacist that I keep forgetting about. __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

May 16, 2003, 03:23 PM	#26
megatron DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 93 Rep Power: 0	I never removed the shim but I filed down the heatsink where it made contact with the shim, wasn't all that convincing but my 9700pro o/c to 369/337 with ACII. Been like it since December. __________________ My system specs and 3dmark2001se score Rad8500 bioses, UT2k3, GTA3 pages & more. Also watercooling endeavours.

May 17, 2003, 04:01 AM	#29
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	BTW: What's a shim and why would you want to remove it __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

May 2, 2003, 02:07 PM	#1
ViRuS2k HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Uk Posts: 8,334 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	yesssssss i removed that god awfull shim from my powercolor pro :P took some work to remove that glued down SOB ;p i used wd40 hehe to remove the TIM from the heatsink came off pritty easy then i let it lie for about 1 hour to remove mousture. then i lapped the sink with as3 and the gpu with as3.. put it back on installed it. befour the shim was removed - 351 core 342 memory and after 370 core 342 memory......... as you can see this is with stock ATI defaul hsf with no ram sinks i gain a big boost artifact free so after all removeing the shim realy helps in leaps and bounds /.

May 2, 2003, 02:29 PM	#2
apotsi DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2003 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	WD40 ??? What is that? I live in Greece and I haven't encountered such a product here. Could you also post some pics of the procedure ??? And which powercolor pro, BTW ?? __________________ Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet.

May 2, 2003, 05:15 PM	#4
MDboyz DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 22 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, I gain a lot after taking out the ATI shim and put some AS3 on it. Nice work!!!

May 3, 2003, 03:41 PM	#6
generalstupid Guest Posts: n/a	and io bet you didnt see too much of a performance boost there did you? its mostly the ram speed that really makes teh card go faster. But still... good job!

May 8, 2003, 11:35 AM	#7
scollops DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: S.Wales UK Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	HMMM wish mine worked - I have a 3D connect 9700 pro - gently eased off the shim applied as3 and re-assembled - booted up get one long beep two shorts - cheksum error no video output . Guess my cards gone to the big graphics bod in the sky - Â£300 down the pan for trying to be a smart ass.

May 9, 2003, 12:50 PM	#10
scollops DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: S.Wales UK Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	WyreTheWolf - cheers for the info - gonna attempt later today, although I have noticed something I didnt before which probably means is busted - whilst taking the shim off looks like I have nicked the block the shim sits on. There appears to be tracks on this - an if I have sliced one am guessing thats the problem - but firstly try the clean everything up option and see what happens - gut wrentching feeling coming this card may be in the bin soon.........

May 12, 2003, 10:07 AM	#11
scollops DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: S.Wales UK Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Well its dead ...... Looks like I nicked the block the shim fits on - tried the grease, think I see a blue flick of light when it boots - so am guessing its a short so no hope there so gotta dig deep and get a 9800 now bring it on

May 12, 2003, 10:31 AM	#13
scollops DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: S.Wales UK Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	THe GPU sits in the middle surrounded by tiny PCB thingies - they all sit on the main block which the SHIM is glued too - this is what your trying to take off (the him that is) - just be careful it appears there are tracks on this block and if you happen to nick it - you may have similar prob - but just take your time and should pop off. (He says just throwing his in the bin angrily...)

May 16, 2003, 06:41 AM	#15
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	What part of the video card is fooked? I made this pic to illistrate what the names of all the parts are. Should help some. I think you are trying to say that you scratched the GPU Substrate... but I could be incorrect.

May 16, 2003, 09:01 AM	#19
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	http://www.overclockers.com/articles714/ hope that helps you out some....

May 16, 2003, 09:02 AM	#20
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	I think I am going to leave the shim on my new card.... more details on that later ... but instead of actually removing it... I am going to lap it down to the same depth as the GPU core.

May 16, 2003, 10:01 AM	#22
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	That is what pure alcohol is for... clean it completely... and all done... Some shims were made of metal, others were made of mica... If it is mica then you dont have to worry about shavings, and dust. The metal ones... probably better to remove those and then lap them down, or just leave them removed.

May 16, 2003, 11:30 AM	#23
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	You are referring to denatured I am guessing right? Or can you use isopropyl too? I always wondered about that- I have isopropyl, but not denatured- (even tho isopropyl is a form of denatured, I think) What do you use?