K|NGP|N’s GUIDE:
LIQUID NITROGEN
prep for your GPU with the Tek9
Single GPU 3D overclocking is a great
challenge that can be fun when all you need
to worry about is pushing the clocks as high
as they can go and getting great results.
Once again preparation can mean the
difference between getting some solid runs
down or killing cards left and right with not
much to show for the effort. As I mentioned
in the previous guide for CPU prep on Z77, it
doesn't have to be complicated or overdone,
just done right. Cards can be completely
frozen over at the end of sessions so you
can't cut corners if you want to keep the
system running. Let’s go over how I prepare
my GPUs before I do my single card runs.
Here is what works best for me and best
of all my method won't trash your “blingy”
new GPU.
List of items needed are petroleum jelly
(Vaseline is good), some 2-5/8 diameter
or slightly larger round foam insulation.
Half inch thick, foam tape, paper towels
("shop towels" are best as they are
particularly absorbent and wick up water
nicely), small brush for applying grease,
hair dryer or heat gun, some scissors to
cut out all your socket gaskets and some
rubber bands. [IMAGE 1]
STEP ONE
Step one is to remove the PWM
heatsink from the PWM area
before applying the grease. I don’t
use dry eraser for protection
from condensation because I
have found that the dry eraser
tends to transfer cold to the
surrounding surface mounted
components particularly on GPUs.
This will cause problems in long
overclocking sessions. Use the
brush and apply the grease all
around the GPU front and back
(areas marked green). As in the
picture (2 & 3), put extra grease in
front of the row of caps on the card
then tilt it and heat it with heat gun
26 The OverClocker Issue 21 | 2012
STEP 3
so the grease runs down in and
around the caps and mosfets on the
card. Water can get in there and
short so this is a key step.
STEP 2
After the grease is applied, you
can remount the PWM heatsinks
at which point it’s time to use the
foam tape. Make some PCB gaskets
to seal off the card surfaces on the
front and back of the PCB around
the GPU. Make the tape gaskets
for the back of the card now, but
we won't use them until the later
steps. (After the pot is mounted)
Now let’s can make some quick
and easy insulation for the GPU
LN2 container before mounting
the card to it. This guide can apply
equally to any GPU unit you decide
to use for your overclocking; here
I will use my Tek-9 FAT pot. As I
mentioned earlier, no need to use
any nasty sticky tape insulation
and mess up your pot forever, it’s
much easier and more effective
to use some slip on round foam
around the container instead. It
will last longer and protect against
condensation better. Cut the piece
of round foam the length of the
container as in the picture (7).