Watercooled 3080/3090 VRAM temps - Copper Shim installation

MikeTimbers · 17 Aug 2021 at 08:55

Can those with watercooled 3080/3090 cards can you provide your VRAM and GPU temperatures when under load?

Trying to see what delta you have.

For context I have an Inno3d 3080 with a factory fitted Alphacool Eisblock. I don't game with it. It was bought on a whim and at a significantly below MSRP. In a loop with a 7700K and a 360mmx60mm thick rad the VRAM is very hot and I'm thinking about replacing the Eisblock.

MikeTimbers · 17 Aug 2021 at 20:01

Thanks all, keep it coming please!

MikeTimbers · 20 Aug 2021 at 13:22

Gavster said:
3080 Founders Edition
EK Quantum Vector FE

GPU memory junction 38c idle and 58c gaming
GPU temp 30c idle and 58.6 gaming

Chockymonster said:
3080 FE Founders Edition
EK Quantum Vector FE
Ambient temp 25

GPU memory junction 38c idle 48 gaming
GPU temp 32 idle and 42 gaming

Wow, those FE numbers are really low!

MikeTimbers · 20 Aug 2021 at 13:47

Gavster said:
Don`t forget that 3080 doesn`t have memory chips on the back like the 3090 which will help a lot.

understood. My 3080RE though is a lot hotter than those 3080FE.

It's all very confusing. I've seen block reviews that show relatively little difference between RE blocks (Techpowerup) and others (Kitguru) that showed a massive difference. Techpowerup showed VRAM on the Alphacool as 5C worse than the EK Vector while Kitguru showed 22C worse on Alphacool than Vector.

So I don't know whether I've got a crap block and replacing it is worthwhile or an OK block and it isn't. The temps above show that my VRAM temps are still poor despite changing the pads.

MikeTimbers · 20 Aug 2021 at 20:58

Gavster said:
Can you post up the thermal pad layout? I know the EK block uses way more thermal pads than Nvidia, if the Alphacool block uses the same pad layout as Nvidia then that might explain the temperature difference in the memory junction between the two.

1mm pads across memory. The VRM has the same 1mm. I believe the problem is in the design of the block itself which has relatively little fluid flow over the VRAM areas but as I say I'm confused that one review says it's fine and another says it's not.

https://www.kitguru.net/components/...-vs-corsair-vs-ekwb-rtx-3080-gpu-water-block/
https://www.techpowerup.com/review/alphacool-eisblock-aurora-acryl-gpx-n-rtx-3080-3090-reference/

MikeTimbers · 21 Aug 2021 at 22:14

@Damien. what block do you have on that please?

MikeTimbers · 7 Feb 2022 at 20:10

KrazeyKami said:
Asus ROG Strix 3090 (non-oc variant) + AlphaCool Eiswolf 2 (modified backplate with my own active cooling, see https://forum.alphacool.com/threads/alphacool-eiswolf-2-for-3090-strix-wrong-size-of-padding.2809/ for details on my mod) / https://hardforum.com/threads/asus-...tercooled-temperatures-3dmark-scores.2017452/ for my rig.

Thanks, I will be disassembling the entire card on next loop teardown and checking all contacts.

MikeTimbers · 20 Feb 2022 at 22:53

Sidewinder11 said:
MSI 3080ti with an Alphacool block
Core = 48c
Hotspot = 55c
Memory = 60c

Do you have any pics of the block? Or an exact model number?

MikeTimbers · 21 Feb 2022 at 13:17

Sidewinder11 said:
https://www.alphacool.com/download/...TX_3090-3080_Gaming_X_Trio_with_Backplate.pdf

Thanks for that, Alphacool as usual being weird with their details. The PDF you linked says it's for a Gaming X Trio but then says it's for a reference layout, which I do not believe the Gaming X Trio is. But that block looks like a new design compared to the one I have (which I'm convinced is simply poorly designed).

Oh well.

MikeTimbers · 30 Mar 2022 at 10:42

Have just ordered a CoolMyGPU copper ram shim from the US for $75 delivered. Looks like a neat way to solve the problem of ram height and thermal pads by using a shim that surrounds the core. thermal paste on the ram chips, shim on, thermal paste on the shim, waterblock installed. Can't wait to try it.

MikeTimbers · 31 Mar 2022 at 18:35

Gavster said:
I`m looking forward to seeing the results of that.

I will try to take a set of before temps, some pics of the fitting and the after temps.

MikeTimbers · 1 Apr 2022 at 09:34

@Audioboxer what cooling do you have on that card?

MikeTimbers · 19 Apr 2022 at 14:38

Well the shim has arrived.

This will replace all the thermal pads around the gpu core covering the RAM chips.

Current RAM temps if mining (stopped doing that but it seems a very good stress test for RAM) are around 100C. When Folding@Home (normal behaviour) with card power limited to 80%, RAM temps are 80C, GPU hot spot at 53C with card at 1950 and 98% gpu load.

Will plan an urgent teardown and rebuild.

MikeTimbers · 2 May 2022 at 20:23

Gavster said:
Any news yet Mike?

Sorry, haven't had the time. Soon I hope.

MikeTimbers · 5 May 2022 at 19:55

Should be starting this tomorrow.

As a benchmark I have fired up NiceHash and while the GPU toddles along at 975MHz and a hotspot of 47C, the RAM at 9751MHz has a Memory Temperature (GPU-Z 2.45.0) of 96C.

I plan to make as few unnecessary changes to the loop as possible but I will be replacing the CPU block which is after the gpu in loop order.

MikeTimbers · 7 May 2022 at 12:58

was waiting for a replacement cpu block and here it is, can anyone spot the problem with this block?

MikeTimbers · 7 May 2022 at 20:00

Bubo said:
Going to have some really nice flowrate on those, what, maybe 3 central grooves? The rest of the grooves are on their own. Bit of a joke there.

quite right, the top is at 90 degrees to the base. Bit naughty to sell like this but I'm sure it's an honest mistake.

MikeTimbers · 9 May 2022 at 16:31

TLDR. shim does not work with my block and card. basically there is no contact with the core if the shim is in place. I have gone back to some Gelid 1mm pads on the ram but am still seeing 90c on the ram when mining.

MikeTimbers · 9 May 2022 at 20:43

Bubo said:
Possible to lap the shim at all?

it's very thin already and would need to go down very evenly across four interconnected rectangles by the same amount.the big problem is the amount of time and error it would take to get it to where it needs to be. If anyone wants it to try with their card, I will happily send on.

When I had it fitted, if only the core was hot but the memory was cool I would have maybe worked harder on this but the RAM temps were over 100C and so I am unconvinced this thing works at all.

MikeTimbers · 15 May 2022 at 11:34

Update: This morning, the 3080 is no longer in device manager and there is no display whatsoever. My PC works off its internal cpu graphics.

Having completed yesterday my 10 billionth point for Folding@Home, perhaps it is time to stop. I have a reference water-cooled 1070 lying around so will drop that in and inspect the 3080 but I think I may have killed it.