2080ti FE Whining and Overheating (86c)

Just return it.

If you want to stick with Turing get an AIB partner card, not the FE. You will have better temps and the performance of these cards is very dependent on temps. Just read the reviews, though. Some partner cards aren't any better. For example, I think the Asus Dual doesn't really have good cooling either. It's just a large aluminum block without heat pipes. I'd say go for at least a 2.5 slot + 3-fan design. How's the airflow in your case?

I just went through the same this you are experiencing with my FE card. I returned it and bought a EVGA Ultra XC 2080 based on people saying its a 4k/60fps capable card, which its not. Its not premium looking like the FE card but I do like the 3 slot design. Runs below 70*c in my case. I'm gonna return it and try to find a ti version of it or the MSI Trio card.

So your 1080 would definitely run cooler for a couple of reasons, but to simplify the answer the reason is the TDP of the 1080 stock gpu is 180w compared to the 260W of the stock 2080 ti (OC versions can be 300W or more). It is not far fetched to consider that your card could reach into the 80c range, but it does seem like something is wrong with your particular unit anyway considering the sounds it was making. Techpowerup reports 77c as the load temp for the 2080 ti FE and that may be in an open-air test setup, I believe. I did notice that the top critical complaint on Newegg for the Meshify C Mini (white version) is that it gets too hot inside. The reviewer said that the temp is reduced by 7c if the foam in the front filter is removed. My case, the Cougar QBX ITX-Mini, had a bottom filter made of material that was so poorly chosen for the task that it completely restricted air flow of the two bottom fans I had installed. I ditched the filter and the frame that held it and installed feet that lifted the case 5/8" up for better airflow.

OK, I got a bit confused because in your list of specs at the top you wrote x42, which is a single fan rad. Later you indicate the x52, which is a dual rad. So basically your gpu is getting air that is pre-warmed by the cpu. That seems to be the only intake on your case, correct? If you are into modding I would say cut a hole in the bottom of your case and put another intake fan there. Obviously if you want to keep the psu shroud you'd also need to cut a pass-thru for the cool air to reach the gpu. Maybe put a wire frame fan grill over the hole on the shroud for a finished look. Do you think you could get a hole strategically placed near the gpu without anything under the shroud getting in the way? That seems to be the only way you can get room temp air to your gpu under the current fan and cpu cooler configuration. None of this may be necessary if you get the XC2 Ultra.

The EVGA 2080 ti XC2 Ultra looks like a great card. If my build wasn't an ITX mini I would have considered it more seriously because of the huge cooler. Unfortunately, they put a 3-slot bracket on it. Not a huge deal and I did consider modding my case to make it fit, but availability was the other limiting factor for me. I went with the Gigabyte 2080 ti Gaming OC because it was a card on my radar and it came up before the MSI 20180 ti Duke, which was also one of my picks and very close to the Gigabyte card I ended up with.

I think you should do ok with the XC2 Ultra and it seems like you need the 3-slot cooler considering your case temp situation. I haven't read anything about it, but I would think it has similar thermal performance to the Asus 2080 ti Strix, which runs at 65c under load. I couldn't find in the review if they tested it in a case or out in the open, but here's the link: https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_RTX_2080_Ti_Strix_OC/37.html

There is no Geek Squad protection available for GPUs.