I would recommend Thermal Paste over Thermal Putty.
TF8 or MX-4 works very well on Both GPU and CPUs.
No one can find good 1.25mm Thermal Pads anywhere.
Some are saying that the 1.25mm Thermal Pads are too small.

But sure if they are better then what we now have; I wonder what the  W/MK is on them.
How is the Contact between the Block the Memory?
Condition:Open box      :      Maybe even used not sure what this is really saying.
  An item in excellent, new condition with no wear. The item may be missing the original packaging or protective wrapping, or may be in the original packaging but not sealed. The item includes original accessories. The item may be a factory second. See the seller's listing for full details and description. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab

Cool,
I did find this https://www.digikey.com/products/en/fans-thermal-management/thermal-pads-sheets/218/page/123?ColumnSort=147
1.27mm 5.0W/m-K (Tacky - Both Sides) and seeing some 7.5W/m-K and the Max 7.8W/m-K
https://www.digikey.com/products/en?FV=ffecfd84 7.8W/m-K
https://www.digikey.com/en/supplier-centers/l/laird-technologies-thermal-products
Going to see if I can get this one. Never Mind $436.99
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/laird-technologies-thermal-materials/A15754-05/A15754-05-ND/9092080

dwexpress
I bought 3 of these from ebay and they were here at the house when i got home. 1 of them alone will work on all the memory when you cut it to each die size instead of full strips.
 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/40-80-1-25mm-GPU-CPU-Heatsink-Cooling-Thermal-Silicon-Conductive-Pad-DIY/263861464737?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648

Those are the ones I found too. Are they working well for you?

The123364

bcavnaugh
I would recommend Thermal Paste over Thermal Putty.
TF8 or MX-4 works very well on Both GPU and CPUs.
No one can find good 1.25mm Thermal Pads anywhere.
Some are saying that the 1.25mm Thermal Pads are too small.

Is it thermal paste safe? That would be easier because I have plenty. I was just going off the response from evga. I assume they would rather me use pads over paste.

Pads over Paste on what?

If you could use pads, I'd go with the pads over paste since I feel that will make a mess and my OCD says heck to the no, no!  Just my personal preference.

bcavnaugh

The123364

bcavnaugh
I would recommend Thermal Paste over Thermal Putty.
TF8 or MX-4 works very well on Both GPU and CPUs.
No one can find good 1.25mm Thermal Pads anywhere.
Some are saying that the 1.25mm Thermal Pads are too small.

Is it thermal paste safe? That would be easier because I have plenty. I was just going off the response from evga. I assume they would rather me use pads over paste.

Pads over Paste on what?

I have to chuckle reading the suggestion to use thermal paste instead of thermal putty, and then right after ask “pads over paste on what?”

I have misread so many things and had to go back to see what I had missed.

Still not sure why the thermal putty was used on the VRM versus the thermal pads. Maybe it had better heat transfer than a pad?

The thermal rating on the pads has shown to be less honest than what most assume, from what I have been reading lately. I guess the company can use their own specific testing methods to make their product look better. I noticed that people (to include myself) have purchased the “extreme 17w/mk fujipoly thermal pads” just to find out they perform almost exactly the same as the 5w/mk pads because all of the other surfaces become limiting factors.

Anyway, keep everyone updated as you try out the pads you found. I have become fond of the softer pads that are rated at 7w/mk just because they are easier to compress and don’t cause the pcb to flex like the stiffer pads can cause.

the_Scarlet_one

bcavnaugh

The123364

bcavnaugh
I would recommend Thermal Paste over Thermal Putty.
TF8 or MX-4 works very well on Both GPU and CPUs.
No one can find good 1.25mm Thermal Pads anywhere.
Some are saying that the 1.25mm Thermal Pads are too small.

Is it thermal paste safe? That would be easier because I have plenty. I was just going off the response from evga. I assume they would rather me use pads over paste.

Pads over Paste on what?

I have to chuckle reading the suggestion to use thermal paste instead of thermal putty, and then right after ask “pads over paste on what?”

I have misread so many things and had to go back to see what I had missed.

Still not sure why the thermal putty was used on the VRM versus the thermal pads. Maybe it had better heat transfer than a pad?

The thermal rating on the pads has shown to be less honest than what most assume, from what I have been reading lately. I guess the company can use their own specific testing methods to make their product look better. I noticed that people (to include myself) have purchased the “extreme 17w/mk fujipoly thermal pads” just to find out they perform almost exactly the same as the 5w/mk pads because all of the other surfaces become limiting factors.

Anyway, keep everyone updated as you try out the pads you found. I have become fond of the softer pads that are rated at 7w/mk just because they are easier to compress and don’t cause the pcb to flex like the stiffer pads can cause.

Well the eBay ones are going to take a while to be here (Aug 15 – Sep 26). I would like to try other pads for now.
Thanks for your input on the softer pads. What thickness did you use? 

The123364
Am I correct in assuming that the next best choice is 1mm thickness since I can't find 1.25mm?
 

The 1.0mm is what i used on the memory modules but then i also used thermal paste on it to help with the difference in the 1.0 and 1.25mm pads. 

Hope it's OK to necro this thread!
 
I am just waiting for my 2080TI FTW3 to arrive and I wanted to re-paste it but had a couple of questions.
 
1. Is the advice against liquid metal TIM on the GPU die purely because you have to be extremely careful when applying it?  Or is there more to it?
 
2. For the thermal pads, I have read though the above debate about 1.25mm being hard to get and maybe using 1.0mm with paste...  I was thinking why not use 1.5mm and just be sensible about how you tension the cooler down after?  I feel like if you replace all the pads with the same thickness you should be ok...  Or again is there a finer point I will miss until I have it in bits :-)
 
Just for the reference, I am a veteran PC builder of ~25 years.  Done custom loops and things in the past, but always like to mine for insight before diving in :-)
 
Thanks
 

SciFi_Bob
Hope it's OK to necro this thread!
 
I am just waiting for my 2080TI FTW3 to arrive and I wanted to re-paste it but had a couple of questions.
 
1. Is the advice against liquid metal TIM on the GPU die purely because you have to be extremely careful when applying it?  Or is there more to it?
 
2. For the thermal pads, I have read though the above debate about 1.25mm being hard to get and maybe using 1.0mm with paste...  I was thinking why not use 1.5mm and just be sensible about how you tension the cooler down after?  I feel like if you replace all the pads with the same thickness you should be ok...  Or again is there a finer point I will miss until I have it in bits :-)
 
Just for the reference, I am a veteran PC builder of ~25 years.  Done custom loops and things in the past, but always like to mine for insight before diving in :-)
 
Thanks
 

1) Damage to the GPU / card Voids the warranty   Yes, there are steps & sometimes LM migrates & sometimes it dissolves wave soldered joints For a daily driver ... why risk it ?  Hey, want to chase World Records - OK thats 1 reason
 
2) I would never use thermal pads & paste - for "gap filling" ... proper thermal pad heat transfer Requires some compression.  1.5mm pads would be the ticket
 
 

Since very recently installing an EKWB GPU waterblock for the 2080 Ti FTW3 I found the thermal pads EVGA used on the stock cooler to be way thicker than the ones EK supplied. I'm not sure if that is by design for that particular cooler or not but you may be able to use thinner thermal pads and maybe get better cooling? I'll post some links. 

I disagree with using taller pads. You then have the potential for increasing the height of the coldplate over the GPU die. The best thing would be to get 1.25mm pads, second best 1.0 with paste. Memory cooling isn't all that critical anyway as the max temp is around 90c. 
 
I don't know why non-conductive TIM is a problem outside of the die area. You can clean it with a soft bristle brush and some isopropanol alcohol easily. Some LN2 guys have been know to wash off petroleum jelly in a dishwasher, so there's always that. 
 

Since very recently installing an EKWB GPU waterblock for the 2080 Ti FTW3 I found the thermal pads EVGA used on the stock cooler to be way thicker than the ones EK supplied. I'm not sure if that is by design for that particular cooler or not but you may be able to use thinner thermal pads and maybe get better cooling? I'll post some links.

 
The problem with doing this is that EK uses different height standoffs. 

Those silicone thermal pads are poor performing and did not last long at ll.
 

I forgot to mention that i also used a bit of thermal paste too on the 1.00mm pads I used.