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Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series cards reach over 212°F: Cheap thermal paste degrades performance

Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series cards face performance issues due to subpar paste (Image source: Nvidia)
Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series cards face performance issues due to subpar paste (Image source: Nvidia)
Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series cards are facing performance issues months after purchase. An investigation by Igor's Lab reveals the culprit: subpar thermal paste that deteriorates rapidly, suggesting a potentially widespread cost-cutting measure in the GPU industry that could be impacting long-term performance.

Recent community feedback suggests that some Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series AIB cards are experiencing elevated hotspot temperatures, reaching 212°F (100°C) after several months of use. Igor Wallossek of Igor's Lab investigated these claims, focusing on the quality of the thermal paste used in these graphics cards. 

Wallossek conducted tests using thermal paste from a new Manli RTX 4080 Gallardo. The ASTM D5470-17 standard was used when using the TIMA5 thermal analyzer system to measure thermal conductivity and resistance. Tests were performed at 140°F (60°C) with varying thickness and pressure to simulate real-world conditions.

Key findings include:

  • At thin layers, the paste's thermal conductivity rivaled premium solutions like Thermal Grizzly and Thermalright.
  • Thicker applications led to rapidly declining thermal performance compared to premium alternatives.
  • Achieving optimal thermal conductivity required significantly higher pressure.

Wallossek then decided to do a microscopic examination, discovering:

  • An oily texture that dried quickly
  • Large aluminum oxide particles (up to 16 µm)
  • Presence of zinc oxide as a filler material

The large aluminum oxide particles initially perform well thermally but create gaps in the paste matrix. This allows smaller particles and oil to bleed out, causing rapid dissolution and drying of the paste.

It remains unclear if this issue affects only high-end Nvidia GPUs or extends to other AIB manufacturers and GPU brands. Further testing across various cards from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel would be needed. While the initial performance of these cards may be excellent for marketing and reviews, it's the long-term complications that arise for users that raise eyebrows.

Those who don't want to have anything to do with subpar quality thermal paste can get the 12 GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super on BestBuy for $599

Source(s)

TechSpot (in English) via igorsLAB (in English)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2024 07 > Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series cards reach over 212°F: Cheap thermal paste degrades performance
Nathan Ali, 2024-07-22 (Update: 2024-08-15)