Anyone try putting a fan on top of the 3090FE backplate WITHOUT heatsinks to lower vram temps?

Preciseman · 10 May 2021 at 15:31

Hi,

Wanted to see if anyone tried to put a fan on top of the backplate of the 3090FE where the memory modules sit without putting heatsinks on top (like this: https://imgur.com/a/bG63inK). On my card, they got hot to the touch, and my options that aren't repadding or going on water are limited since I also rock a big CPU cooler:

https://imgur.com/a/FpYS649

I mounted a extra fan I had lying around vertically which helped drop temps 2-4C depending on game, but I'm wondering if I just jam a super slim fan between the CPU cooler and GPU (I think Noctua's 14 or 15mm fans may fit, definitely not the 25mm "normal sized" fans), if that will reduce temps a bit better.

I know this works on some AIB cards since the backplate is perforated and has holes, so pointing a fan downward on the backplate have gotten some people great results, but not sure on the FE cards. Anyone try this?

Glanza · 10 May 2021 at 15:43

Not worth, increase your fan profile on the GPU if your worried.

xPETEZx · 10 May 2021 at 15:43

If you have the fan lying around, try it. If you need to buy hardware....I wouldnt bother.

From what I read, it makes little to no difference. Blowing air at a flat surface isnt great for heat disapation.
Even when people strap heatsinks to the back, the reduction seems fairly minimal. Compared to re-padding even just the back-side of the card. (Which can drop temps by 10-20 degrees on vram)

Jay85 · 10 May 2021 at 16:16

I did it with 2 smaller 40mm noctua fans. The noise isn't terrible even at 5000rpm, keeps the chips on the back nice and cool.

Preciseman · 10 May 2021 at 16:18

xPETEZx said:
If you have the fan lying around, try it. If you need to buy hardware....I wouldnt bother.

From what I read, it makes little to no difference. Blowing air at a flat surface isnt great for heat disapation.
Even when people strap heatsinks to the back, the reduction seems fairly minimal. Compared to re-padding even just the back-side of the card. (Which can drop temps by 10-20 degrees on vram)

I've read up on doing just the backside, but it seems the 10-20C drops are for people who have done both sides, and knowing me, there's a 99% chance I'd break the LED ribbon when trying to get to the die side of the GPU :/

xPETEZx · 10 May 2021 at 16:30

Preciseman said:
I've read up on doing just the backside, but it seems the 10-20C drops are for people who have done both sides, and knowing me, there's a 99% chance I'd break the LED ribbon when trying to get to the die side of the GPU :/

I did just the back-side, and my temps dropped from high of 106 to high of 96. So on the low-end of the drops possible.
Still, enough of a drop to stop the fan ramp up to 1700rpm that happens once it gets to 104. So Im happy.

Preciseman · 10 May 2021 at 16:31

Jay85 said:
I did it with 2 smaller 40mm noctua fans. The noise isn't terrible even at 5000rpm, keeps the chips on the back nice and cool.

Oh nice setup! Those tiny noctua fans, are they sitting on top of a heatsink or are they sitting right on top of the waterblock's backplate? Do you get cooler temps with this?

primate3046 · 10 May 2021 at 16:32

Hi,

I think the configuration you have is blowing air back at the heatsink isn't it? you'd want an exhaust fan there if that's not what it is already.

I've replaced the heat pads on mine following this guide https://youtu.be/G3260LR2JzQ - frankly this was a bit stressful given the value of the card and who knows what will happen long term as a result. In any case it has clearly made a massive difference however since the card allows GPU temp to rise and the fan speed is much lower (i.e. the card is no longer struggling to cool the VRAM junction so doesn't need to hammer the fans whilst the GPU temp is low).

In any case upgrading heatpads won't actually reduce the temp of the memory modules, it will just enable the heat to be conducted better to the backplate which is a fairly paltry conductor, so I am still thinking about doing what you're talking about. In my configuration though the card is vertical so I would need to stick a heatsink to the card. Thermal tape has such low thermal conducitivity I am concerned it might actually make matters worse, so I'd be interested in what other people say too.

Preciseman · 10 May 2021 at 16:33

xPETEZx said:
I did just the back-side, and my temps dropped from high of 106 to high of 96. So on the low-end of the drops possible.
Still, enough of a drop to stop the fan ramp up to 1700rpm that happens once it gets to 104. So Im happy.

In gaming? I've noticed games that hit power limits at higher resolutions (I run 3840x1600) can hit upward of 102C, maybe 104C for a second or so before coming down.

Preciseman · 10 May 2021 at 16:36

primate3046 said:
Hi,

I think the configuration you have is blowing air back at the heatsink isn't it? you'd want an exhaust fan there if that's not what it is already.

I've replaced the heat pads on mine following this guide https://youtu.be/G3260LR2JzQ - frankly this was a bit stressful given the value of the card and who knows what will happen long term as a result. In any case it has clearly made a massive difference however since the card allows GPU temp to rise and the fan speed is much lower (i.e. the card is no longer struggling to cool the VRAM junction so doesn't need to hammer the fans whilst the GPU temp is low).

In any case upgrading heatpads won't actually reduce the temp of the memory modules, it will just enable the heat to be conducted better to the backplate which is a fairly paltry conductor, so I am still thinking about doing what you're talking about. In my configuration though the card is vertical so I would need to stick a heatsink to the card. Thermal tape has such low thermal conducitivity I am concerned it might actually make matters worse, so I'd be interested in what other people say too.

Hi,

Yes, the fan is pushing air toward the backplate, but I guess my thought process was that it would at least get air circulating above the backplate, because due to the CPU cooler, I think there are hot air pockets getting trapped between the GPU and the CPU.

I can turn it to be exhaust, but it really would just be exhausting the air to the tempered glass side panel, not sure if that would entirely do anything. I can test it for sur ethough.

xPETEZx · 10 May 2021 at 16:41

Preciseman said:
In gaming? I've noticed games that hit power limits at higher resolutions (I run 3840x1600) can hit upward of 102C, maybe 104C for a second or so before coming down.

Yea I dont mine. Dread to think what temps Id get then.... my case probably isnt helping. Looking to change that atm.

I found old games get the temps much higher. Things like SoTR, never got much over 98-100. But GTA V, that gets the temps to 102-104, fans go nuts, goes back down to 102. Just annoyed the heck out of me...

Preciseman · 10 May 2021 at 16:46

xPETEZx said:
Yea I dont mine. Dread to think what temps Id get then.... my case probably isnt helping. Looking to change that atm.

I found old games get the temps much higher. Things like SoTR, never got much over 98-100. But GTA V, that gets the temps to 102-104, fans go nuts, goes back down to 102. Just annoyed the heck out of me...

What resolution are you running? 4k? 3840x1600 UW?

What games have you tested? Cold War/Cyberpunk? Hows your VRAM now on those games?

xPETEZx · 10 May 2021 at 16:51

Preciseman said:
What resolution are you running? 4k? 3840x1600 UW?

What games have you tested? Cold War/Cyberpunk? Hows your VRAM now on those games?

Yea I game at 3840x1600 UW. Tbh, I never bother checking the temps on games unless the fans go crazy and it annoys me. So I know for sure GTA V gets them up to 102-104.

Cold War I havent played much recently, but seems to keep fans low, so I can only assume its not hitting 102+.
I dont own Cyberpunk, so cant comment on that one.

Preciseman · 10 May 2021 at 16:53

xPETEZx said:
Yea I game at 3840x1600 UW. Tbh, I never bother checking the temps on games unless the fans go crazy and it annoys me. So I know for sure GTA V gets them up to 102-104.

Cold War I havent played much recently, but seems to keep fans low, so I can only assume its not hitting 102+.
I dont own Cyberpunk, so cant comment on that one.

GTA 5 online? I haven't played that since I got my new monitor. Or campaign? I want to login and check now.

And 102-104 is pre-pad right? What do you get it after padding?

chroniclard · 10 May 2021 at 16:56

Shouldnt need to worry about temperatures when gaming. :confused:

Though I wonder if you CPU cooler has any impact being so close....

Preciseman · 10 May 2021 at 16:57

chroniclard said:
Shouldnt need to worry about temperatures when gaming.

Nah, on the FE, it's still a issue, especially with games that hit the full 400W power limit (at 114% on the 3090FE).

Games like Dirt 5 which sit at 400W basically the entire session can get up to 104C, even on a mesh case like I have (pure base 500dx). Doesn't hit 110+ like mining, but still, going to 104C briefly will still ramp the fans to like 75 briefly before coming down, which is very loud and annoying.

xPETEZx · 10 May 2021 at 17:02

chroniclard said:
Shouldnt need to worry about temperatures when gaming. Though I wonder if you CPU cooler has any impact being so close....

Maybe not for life of the card...but if you value silence at all.... you do.

Preciseman said:
Nah, on the FE, it's still a issue, especially with games that hit the full 400W power limit (at 114% on the 3090FE).

Games like Dirt 5 which sit at 400W basically the entire session can get up to 104C, even on a mesh case like I have (pure base 500dx). Doesn't hit 110+ like mining, but still, going to 104C briefly will still ramp the fans to like 75 briefly before coming down, which is very loud and annoying.

Dont even need to up the power limit to hit 102-104... just some games seem to cause more memory heat than others. As said above...for me the worst and easily reproduceable offender is GTA V.

Preciseman · 10 May 2021 at 17:23

xPETEZx said:
Maybe not for life of the card...but if you value silence at all.... you do.

Dont even need to up the power limit to hit 102-104... just some games seem to cause more memory heat than others. As said above...for me the worst and easily reproduceable offender is GTA V.

I'm about to fire this up right now to do some testing.

Your still hitting 102-104 after repadding the back? Jesus...

xPETEZx · 10 May 2021 at 17:30

Preciseman said:
I'm about to fire this up right now to do some testing.

Your still hitting 102-104 after repadding the back? Jesus...

No, that was before.

Now it usually sits at 92 in GTA V, but spikes to 94-96. Well below the fan ramp-up so I am very happy.