Why Correct Thermal Pads are Crucial for Your SAPPHIRE RX 5700 XT
Thermal pads are essential for conducting heat away from vital components on your graphics card—such as the VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) modules, VRMs (Voltage Regulator Modules), and other ICs on the front side ("in between the heatsink sandwich"), as well as from the PCB to the backplate. Efficient heat dissipation is paramount to prevent these components from overheating.
Using old, deteriorated, or incorrectly sized/thicknessed thermal pads can lead to several problems:
- Increased Operating Temperatures: This can cause thermal throttling, where the GPU reduces its clock speeds to prevent overheating, thus lowering your gaming performance.
- System Instability: Overheating can manifest as game crashes, visual artifacts on your screen, or even unexpected system shutdowns.
- Reduced GPU Lifespan: Continuous exposure to high temperatures can shorten the operational life of your graphics card's sensitive components.
Replacing thermal pads with new, high-quality ones of the correct thicknesses is an important maintenance step to keep your SAPPHIRE RX 5700 XT running optimally.
Recommended Thermal Pad Sheets & Thicknesses for SAPPHIRE Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB
For the SAPPHIRE Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB, specific thermal pad thicknesses are recommended for the front and back sides of the card, along with guidance on the amount of material needed.
Front Side of PCB (Covering VRAM, VRMs, and other components "in between the heatsink sandwich"):
- Required Thickness: All components on the front side requiring thermal pads use 1mm thick pads.
- Purchasing Recommendation: Approximately, you will need at least two (2) packs of 85mm x 45mm x 1mm thermal pad sheets. This quantity is recommended to ensure full coverage for all the various components on the front of the PCB. You will need to cut individual pads for each component from this 1mm thick material.
Back Side of PCB (Pads "in between the backplate and the PCB"):
- Required Thickness: Pads on the back of the PCB (interfacing with the backplate) use 2mm thick thermal pads.
- Note: The RX 5700 XT typically does not have VRAM modules on the back. These 2mm pads are for general PCB hot-spot cooling and potentially for the back of VRM areas, transferring heat to the backplate.
- Purchasing Recommendation: You will need one (1) pack of 85mm x 45mm x 2mm thermal pad sheet. You will cut pads for all relevant areas under the backplate from this 2mm thick material.
Important Note on Specific Pad Dimensions (Length x Width): While sheet quantities and thicknesses are recommended, specific length and width dimensions for each individual pad on the SAPPHIRE RX 5700 XT are not provided. Therefore, users will need to meticulously measure all components on the front (VRAM, VRMs, etc.) and all areas on the back of the PCB that require thermal pads during disassembly. This will allow you to determine the exact sizes to cut from your 1mm and 2mm thermal pad sheets.
Why Choose Fehonda Thermal Pads?
When undertaking a comprehensive thermal pad replacement, the quality of the thermal pad material is crucial for achieving optimal results. Fehonda thermal pads are a recommended option:
- Premium Quality: Fehonda utilizes high-grade materials in their thermal pads, ensuring excellent thermal conductivity and durability for long-lasting, effective cooling.
- Enhanced Cooling: Specifically engineered to optimize heat transfer, these pads can help significantly reduce the operating temperatures of your GPU's critical components.
- Expertise: Fehonda specializes in thermal interface materials, offering products designed with an understanding of the cooling needs of modern electronics.
- Versatile Solutions: Providing thermal pads in common sheet sizes (like 85x45mm) and various thicknesses offers the flexibility to custom-cut pads for all necessary applications on your card.
Tips for Replacing Your GPU Thermal Pads (Custom Cutting Required)
Replacing GPU thermal pads requires precision, care, and patience, particularly when you need to measure and cut all the pads yourself. If you are not experienced with GPU disassembly, consider seeking professional assistance or meticulously following detailed video guides for your specific SAPPHIRE RX 5700 XT model.
- Preparation: Gather your tools: new Fehonda thermal pad sheets (two 85x45x1mm and one 85x45x2mm), a precision screwdriver set, a sharp craft knife or precision scissors for cutting pads, a ruler or digital calipers for measuring, non-metallic prying tools (optional), high-purity isopropyl alcohol (90%+), and lint-free cloths. An anti-static wrist strap is crucial.
- Disassembly & Identification/Measurement: Carefully disassemble your graphics card to expose all components on the front and back of the PCB that utilize thermal pads.
- Front Side: Identify all VRAM chips, VRM components, MOSFETs, and any other ICs that make contact with the heatsink via 1mm pads. Measure their length and width.
- Back Side: Identify all areas on the PCB that make contact with the backplate via 2mm pads. Measure these areas.
- Remove Old Pads & Clean: Gently remove all old thermal pad material. Thoroughly clean the surfaces of the components, the heatsink contact points, and the backplate interior with isopropyl alcohol to remove any oily residue or debris. Ensure surfaces are completely dry before applying new pads.
- Cut New Pads: Based on your measurements, carefully and precisely cut the new Fehonda thermal pads from your 1mm sheets (for all front components) and your 2mm sheet (for all back components/areas). Aim for clean, straight cuts. The pads should cover the entire surface of the component or designated area.
- Apply New Pads: Remove the protective film from one side of a newly cut pad, apply it to the corresponding component or PCB area (ensuring correct thickness is used for front vs. back), then remove the film from the other side just before reattaching the heatsink or backplate. Ensure good contact.
- Reapply GPU Thermal Paste: Since the heatsink is removed from the GPU die, you will also need to clean the old thermal paste from the GPU die and apply a fresh, even layer of new, high-quality thermal paste.
- Reassembly: Carefully reassemble your graphics card, ensuring even pressure when reattaching the heatsink and backplate. Do not overtighten screws.
- Testing: Install the card back into your PC and monitor temperatures under load (e.g., using benchmarking software or demanding games) to verify the success of the replacement and ensure temperatures are stable and within optimal ranges.
Where to Purchase Fehonda Thermal Pads
For reliable, high-quality Fehonda thermal pad sheets suitable for your SAPPHIRE Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB, online marketplaces like AliExpress are a common source.
FEHONDA Thermal Pad ===>>Click Here to Go to AliExpress and Buy Directly Now
Ensure you purchase:
- Two (2) packs of 85mm x 45mm x 1mm thermal pad sheets (for the front side).
- One (1) pack of 85mm x 45mm x 2mm thermal pad sheet (for the back side). Purchase from a reputable seller.
Conclusion: Optimize Your SAPPHIRE RX 5700 XT's Cooling System
Proper thermal pad replacement for all components on both the front and back of the PCB is key to maintaining the performance, stability, and health of your SAPPHIRE Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB. By using high-quality Fehonda thermal pad sheets of the correct thicknesses (1mm for the entire front side, 2mm for the entire back side) and carefully measuring and cutting the individual pieces to fit your card's specific layout, you can significantly improve your GPU's thermal performance. This leads to a cooler, potentially quieter, and more reliable gaming experience.
