General radiator 006 - Graphics card cooling function

Since the 1990s, computers have gradually entered people's lives, helping them work and study better. In the past two years, with continuous technological advancements, various types of computers have become very common in people's lives. It is generally believed that the most important part of a computer is the CPU, which is indeed crucial, but the role of other components should not be overlooked, including the graphics card cooler. Below, I will provide a detailed introduction to the installation steps of the graphics card cooler.
Step 1: Pairing the holes
This step may be the most difficult part of the entire installation process because the number of holes on the cooler backplate is far greater than the four holes on the graphics card PCB. Choosing the appropriate hole is the most tedious and also the most critical step.
If you do not know the hole spacing of the graphics card, you can measure it with a ruler. The simplest method is to place the graphics card PCB on top of the cooler for pairing.
Step 2: Install screws
After finding the appropriate hole, install the screws on the cooler. The specific length of screws to use depends on the actual installation situation. The principle is to ensure that the cooler is in close contact with the graphics card core.
Step 3: Apply thermal paste
The purpose of thermal paste is to fill in the tiny gaps between the cooler and GPU, ensuring seamless contact between them for better heat dissipation. The rule for applying thermal paste is to make it thin and even; it should not be too thick!
Step 4: Install memory heat sinks
This step is often overlooked but is very important. When the graphics card is working, the temperature around its memory is quite high, especially in the power supply area, so remember to install heat sinks on the memory. When passing screws through holes in the cooler's bracket, do not forget to place insulating washers to prevent nuts from contacting surrounding electronic components.
Step 5: Secure the cooler
Finally, secure the cooler with nuts. It is worth noting that because screws are elastic, they will automatically maintain perfect contact between the graphics card core and heat sink. Therefore, we should not tighten screws too much; some people habitually tighten screws out of fear they will loosen, which is actually incorrect. Over-tightening screws can cause bending and deformation of the graphics card PCB and may even damage the graphics card core. Of course, being too loose is also not acceptable because coolers have weight; if too loose, it can cause gaps between the cooler and graphics card core due to natural sagging forces, affecting heat dissipation.
The correct method is to tighten screws all the way down and then back them off one turn. Observe from the side that there is no bending or deformation of the graphics card PCB; this is ideal.