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Thermal Gel Exhibits Displacement on Specific RTX 50-Series Cards from Gigabyte

Unpleasant sight within your computer case, not exactly optimal.

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3 min read
Unpleasant, though not the absolute worst, discovery within a computer case, not exactly desirable.
Unpleasant, though not the absolute worst, discovery within a computer case, not exactly desirable.

Thermal Gel Exhibits Displacement on Specific RTX 50-Series Cards from Gigabyte

Unveiling the Unsettling Saga of Oozing Graphics Cards

Ever popped open a PC case to find yourself scratching your head at an unfamiliar component? Yep, been there, done that. Recently, I stumbled upon something rather peculiar - a GPU riser bracket, a fancy bit of tech that lets you install your graphics card vertically. But that's peanuts compared to the worries some Gigabyte RTX 50-series card owners are facing these days.

Last month, a Quasar Zone user broke the internet with a post claiming their Gigabyte Aorus Master Ice RTX 5080 thermal gel was crawling out. They'd only had the card for a month, and they'd been using it for some light World of Warcraft sessions. Now, TechPowerUp forums are buzzing with similar tales from users who spotted gel leakage on their Gigabyte cards. Videocardz even picked up on the disturbing trend.

One particularly concerned TechPowerUp member, remekra, shared photos of gel slippage on their vertically installed card. They warned fellow PC enthusiasts to watch out for the issue if they had vertical cases or stands.

In response to the uproar, Gigabyte admitted in a press release last month that there was a small issue. Their press release explained that in some early production batches, too much thermal gel was applied to ensure adequate thermal coverage. The company ensured users that the thermal gel doesn't impact performance, reliability, or lifespan, even if it looks a bit concerning.

Gigabyte's scientifically engineered thermal gel is designed to cover uneven component surfaces for maximum thermal contact. The compound is even capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 150°C before melting or liquifying. Gigabyte also boasted about their rigorous quality assurance testing, covering everything from heavy loads to multi-axis drops and vibration.

With such a pricey tag on these graphics cards, the gel leakage situation is less than ideal. Although no reports have shown the gel issues negatively affecting the function or performance of Gigabyte's RTX 50-series cards, there's a possibility that some components once covered by the thermal gel may no longer be adequately cooled. Plus, gel slippage could potentially lead to a messy cleanup job down the line.

As of now, the extent of the thermal gel slippage problem seems to be limited, hopefully avoiding disasters of "melting cables proportions." BUT, for a company whose top models are selling for upwards of $1,900, a cosmetic variance might not sit well with customers.

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Jess KinghornJournalist at heart, with over ten years in games writing, my passion lies in exploring gaming's eerie corners and championing the underrated. From horror classics to quirky cult hits, I always have a captive audience for my latest deep-dive. When I'm not penning my hardware thoughts, you can find me nestled in a tabletop adventure.

  1. The unsettling saga of oozing graphics cards has led fans to question the quality of certain components, such as the Gigabyte Aorus Master Ice RTX 5080, which some users claim has thermal gel that crawls out after a short period of use.

2.Users of vertically installed graphics cards, such as remekra on TechPowerUp forums, have been warned to watch out for thermal gel slippage.

3.Gigabyte admitted to applying too much thermal gel in some early production batches of their RTX 50-series cards, but assured customers that the gel does not impact performance, reliability, or lifespan.

4.While Gigabyte's thermal gel is designed to withstand temperatures of at least 150°C and undergo rigorous quality assurance testing, the gel slippage could potentially lead to a messy cleanup job and uneven cooling of certain components.

5.With the high price tag on Gigabyte's RTX 50-series cards, the gel leakage situation is less than ideal, raising concerns among customers about the cosmetic variance and potential impact on the cards' lifespan.

6.As reports of the gel issues have been limited so far and no negative effects on the cards' function or performance have been shown, possibly avoiding "melting cable proportions," the extent of the problem remains to be seen.

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