Nvidia’s partner video card manufacturers have been caught using cheap thermal paste in their latest GeForce RTX 40 series video cards, claims the resource’s editor-in-chief igor’sLAB Igor Wallossek: Such savings are fraught with problems for consumers.
Image source: nvidia.com
Thermal paste degradation, which occurs in just a few months, causes temperatures to rise to 100°C and fan speeds to freeze at 100%. Vallosek decided to investigate the issue after reading complaints from readers about the cooling systems of Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards not being as efficient. After examining the Manli GeForce RTX 4080 Gallardo and Asus RTX 4080 TUF Gaming models, he found that the problem was caused by poor-quality thermal paste. When he applied a proven product to the graphics cards, their temperatures returned to normal and the problem was solved.
Igor later discovered that the problem was not limited to a small circle of Nvidia partners — most, if not all, source their thermal paste from the same supplier. It showed excellent performance in the first few days, but degraded faster than standard thermal paste. To confirm his hunch, he ran extensive tests on the new Manli GeForce RTX 4080 Gallardo to see how the paste would perform. At 60 °C, it performed on par with the best products on the market, including Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, at a low layer thickness. When applied in a thicker layer, the thermal conductivity deteriorated to the level of standard products like Arctic MX-6, but remained quite acceptable.
Then the expert decided to examine the substance under a microscope – the thermal paste turned out to be a cheap formula based on a strange oily mixture that dries in a matter of minutes if you rub it with your finger. In addition, it contains aluminum oxide particles up to 16 microns in size – too large, but in the short term they provide high thermal conductivity, which decreases over time. Fortunately, the problem is relatively easy to solve. Most video cards are not that difficult to disassemble, and replacing the thermal paste is the same as on the central processor. Finding a quality product is not difficult, and there are many options with a price tag of up to $ 10.
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