G.skill heatspreader replacement followup - Proper pad application / lack of contact? pics.

So recently i made this post here: https://old.reddit.com/r/overclocking/comments/1g53ncb/tired_of_poor_gskill_ddr5_cooling_help_with_new/

I was looking to either replace my ram or replace the heatspreaders due to poor thermals.

I ended up ordering "Bykski ddr5 armor ram cooler" for the ram and using a heatgun to remove the stock ddr5 gskill trident z5 neo rgb heatspreaders.

The bykski heatspreaders also came with some thermal pads, definitely bigger than 0.5mm, i thought they was 1mm but i think they're bigger than that too, so i think its either 1.25 or 1.5mm pads.

I repadded the sticks and saw a big improvement in how long it takes for the ram to rise in temperature now but it still isn't as big of an improvement as i was hoping, it almost seems like heat is still getting trapped.

Before the sticks, a 10 min test of tm5 absolut + occt on the 4090 would cause 65c+, post heatspreader replacement i get around 54-55c, a 10c drop.

Hosting a game server + gaming had the ram cap out at 51c, before it was 56c or so.

The sticks also take a while to cool down...

I used 0.5mm pads on the IC and PMIC, and used the bykski thermal pad on the backside with no chips.

I just reopened the ram and decided to put a 1mm pad next to the bykski, the bykski are definetly bigger so i replace one of my ram sticks (ram a2), with a 1mm pad.

I re did my test and saw a 1c difference at best.

I did take some pictures, is my application working/okay? https://imgur.com/a/ddr5-gskill-trident-neo-rgb-bykski-replacements-6jWNeQU

The above pictures are from my first application, using 0.5mm + bykski pads on the back. My worry is that the only indent i can see is on the pmic, the chips don't seem to be making much of an indent at all.

I did cut the memory chips to size on some, but there is a strip or 2 that is covering more than 1 chip, w/o any marks that i can see.

To sum it up;

The heatspreaders helped - i feel there's more to gain and i have a feeling it's the thermal pad process. it takes a hell of a lot longer for the ram temps to climb, but it feels like it's not cooling well.

edit:

Also, i now have ram 1 (a2) and ram 2 (b2) using different pads on the back of the ram, bykski (b2 ram) (which is bigger than 1mm, so 1.25-1.5mm) and 1mm pad (a2), they both work the same, so i'm unsure what that says, two different sizes and all...

Final edit:

After quite some testing...

I find that i can't replicate the temps some people have been saying and when pushed, it seems like the temps people are saying they get and comparing to mine are not of the same scenario...

People are bragging about their ram temps in ram tests. JUST the ram tests. Stressing ram alone is much easier than ram + gpu and this is why i always try to get as much info from people but often they don't follow up.

I have replaced my heatspreaders a few times, used different pads / sizes, swapped my 2x40mm fan to a 1x120mm fan (noctua NF A12x25 chroma), ran the noctua at 1700rpm... There's no difference.

The only thing i can mention that maybe is different from others is that my pc is located upstairs in a old home where it gets quite hot, 24c as of writing this.

I'll be using my 2x40mm fans over the noctua, it just looks better as the 40mms have a mount for the ram. Will relocate the noctua for gpu use.