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Gigabyte 3090 Vision OC concerning hot spot temps

pBay

pBay

pBay

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Joined
15 Feb 2009
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241
I just finished swapping my 4k 5800x3d system to 9800x3d, thinking all was well but then noticed my Gigabyte 3090 Vision OC (owned from new) appeared to be core throttling in Cyberpunk benchmarks, even with my rock solid undervolt .875mv @ 1935mhz.

This card has always had very hot memory junction around 100C so I always downclocked the VRAM speeds by -300mhz to keep it under.

Tonight however I noticed the hotspot temp (wherever that is located!) was 104C in more intensive stuff, yet the memory temps were still sub 100C and the GPU core is usually floating around 67-69C at max stress. I suspect this is a fairly recent problem as old GPU-Z log files used to show hotspot much lower than this.

I really don't want to start dissecting it before I have a replacement lined up in case I break something (preferably at 5090 at this point), are there any other options here or do I just scale everything back and make it a pet project early next year?

Thanks in advance.

**Edit - so increasing the power limit to 105% stopped the core throttling behaviour bizarrely (on the older version of afterburner I didn't have to do this). I also ramped up the case fans further, however I am using the PCIE16 temp sensor in bios to set curve, which isn't giving me the desired results since it rarely changes. I may need to work out a way to ramp up the system fans based on the GPU core temp.
 
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Hey there @pBay - reading up on this card (which I also own) suggested that gigabyte used terrible thermal pads in its 30 series cards.

I took apart the card to re-paste it recently, it was OK to do - I have a thread with pics here.

First time I’d ever opened up a GPU and it was a little intimidating I agree but it was fine. Fiddliest bit was disconnecting the RGB cable… that was a pig!

I also have some replacement thermal pads and fans on the way. When I update my thread I’ll give you a tag :)
 
pBay said:
Awesome thanks @Nitefly.

Please could you share the pads you ordered and I may have a look at doing it too.

Will you do the backplate ones too?
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The brand I bought was called Kritical pads as they do a set for this specific GPU, including the back plate ones. I won’t link for ‘forum rule / competitor’ reasons (just in case) :)

… no word yet on shipping etc. so was a bit of a gamble! Hopefully works out OK! :o :p
 
Nitefly said:
The brand I bought was called Kritical pads as they do a set for this specific GPU, including the back plate ones. I won’t link for ‘forum rule / competitor’ reasons (just in case) :)

… no word yet on shipping etc. so was a bit of a gamble! Hopefully works out OK! :o :p
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Hey again, did you hear anything on your kritical pads? Had a look myself, seems a good solution.
 
May order some then. My temps are ludicrous in any slightly taxing modern game.

Was going to stump up for a 5090 in a few months though so probably makes sense to wait and tinker when I have an alternative card lined up
 
Update @Nitefly . I just dismantled the card, replaced all pads using critpads custom set and repasted die with Thermal right TFX (horrific spreading that stuff but is ultra thick so hopefully prevents future pump out).

It has been a real success! After a few passes of cyberpunk benchmark at 4k with dlss quality and ray tracing I'm seeing 59C core, 74C memory and 68C hotspot.

Just a reminder I was seeing core temps of 67C, hotspot of 105C and memory in high 90s/low 100s before.

I am very happy.

Some fun observations though, Gigabyte forgot to add a pad to one of the memory chips on the rear of card, and the thermal paste spread was dreadful
 
Nitefly said:
Great result @pBay - yeah my thermal pad coverage was terrible too!

I hope those dreaded RGB / fan cables weren’t too pesky :cry:
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Fans were easy but I bought a proper electrical toolkit which helped. After a few failed attempts on RGB cable I decided to carry on whilst still attached.

Question now is do I cancel my 5080 preorder!
 
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pBay said:
Fans were easy but I bought a proper electrical toolkit which helped. After a few failed attempts on RGB cable I decided to carry on whilst still attached.

Question now is do I cancel my 5080 preorder!
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Haha on the upgrade train :D

The 5080 will be a pretty solid upgrade <— around a 34% uplift over a 3090 at 4k.

I guess just weigh up whether you’re feeling you really want a bit more oomph and can justify splashing out. The only other upgrade paths that are ‘worth the jump’ would be a used 4090 (some risk with that and currently not viable with used prices) or go all in with a 5090… for either of those routes, you might be best waiting until summer for more availibility.
 
@Nitefly I had to have 2 stabs at pasting as first attempt was unsuccessful.

2nd application clearly worked but bit concerned I may have overtightened the 4 spring loaded screws now.

Did you tighten yours all the way?
 
pBay said:
@Nitefly I had to have 2 stabs at pasting as first attempt was unsuccessful.

2nd application clearly worked but bit concerned I may have overtightened the 4 spring loaded screws now.

Did you tighten yours all the way?
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You should tighten the screws in an ‘opposites’ fashion, one turn at a time.

If the backplate is obviously crushed up against the CPU and looks bent then yes it probably is over tight, but it’s unlikely that it’ll have caused damage. You could loosen off and then screw it back (always end by tightening, not loosening).

I went a bit too far with the screws on one application, did it better another time - seems to be fine now.
 
Nitefly said:
You should tighten the screws in an ‘opposites’ fashion, one turn at a time.

If the backplate is obviously crushed up against the CPU and looks bent then yes it probably is over tight, but it’s unlikely that it’ll have caused damage. You could loosen off and then screw it back (always end by tightening, not loosening).

I went a bit too far with the screws on one application, did it better another time - seems to be fine now.
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Ok thanks. I suspect I might have gone too far but I thought I had a bad contacting heatsink.

I will try loosening a bit in the morning. Think I've had enough excitement for one evening!
 
pBay said:
Ok thanks. I suspect I might have gone too far but I thought I had a bad contacting heatsink.

I will try loosening a bit in the morning. Think I've had enough excitement for one evening!
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Sounds good, don’t worry about it too much either way. Just remember to loosen and then re-tighten a little bit, rather than just loosen :)
 
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