How to Re-Paste Your GPU — Step by Step With Everything You Need to Know

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Re-pasting a GPU is one of the most effective maintenance tasks available and one of the least performed. I re-pasted GPUs dozens of times during my mining operation. Cards showing elevated temperatures often recovered 10 to 15 degrees Celsius from a fresh paste application.

When Should You Re-Paste Your GPU

Three or more years of heavy gaming use. GPU purchased used with unknown history. Temperatures are 10 degrees or more above what you expected. After cleaning the GPU if temperatures remain elevated.

What You Need

• Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut or Arctic MX-6 — your new thermal paste
• 99 percent isopropyl alcohol — for cleaning old paste residue
• Lint-free microfiber cloths — for applying IPA and wiping surfaces
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Plastic spudger or guitar pick — optional, for gently separating the GPU cooler

Step 1 — Remove the GPU From Your PC

Shut down completely and unplug from the wall. Disconnect PCIe power cables. Press the PCIe slot retention clip. Remove bracket screws. Slide the GPU out.

Step 2 — Remove the GPU Cooler

Place the GPU on a flat surface. Identify all screws — typically 4 around the GPU die plus additional screws for the shroud. Remove all screws in a crossing pattern. The cooler may be stuck to the card by old paste. Gently rock the cooler side to side without flexing the PCB. A plastic spudger inserted gently helps.

Step 3 — Clean the Old Paste

Apply isopropyl alcohol to a lint-free cloth and gently wipe the old paste off the GPU die. Clean the contact surface on the cooler heatsink. Allow both surfaces to dry completely.

Step 4 — Apply New Paste

Apply a very small dot of thermal paste to the center of the GPU die — approximately half the size of a pea. The GPU die is small and less paste is needed than for CPU application.

Step 5 — Reassemble and Test

Lower the GPU cooler back onto the PCB aligning the heatsink plate with the GPU die. Press firmly and evenly. Reinstall all screws in crossing pattern. Reinstall the GPU in the PCIe slot. Connect power cables.

Boot the PC and run MSI Afterburner. Run a demanding benchmark for 20 minutes and observe temperatures. A successful re-paste should reduce GPU temperatures by 5 to 15 degrees Celsius.

What Temperature Drop to Expect

Light paste degradation — 5 to 8 degrees Celsius improvement.
Moderate degradation — 8 to 12 degrees Celsius improvement.
Severe degradation on a heavily used card — 12 to 20 degrees Celsius improvement.