Gigabyte RTX 50-series GPUs reportedly prone to melting thermal gel issues
Is your expensive GPU leaking?
If you're a PC enthusiast or gamer who likes to showcase your high-end hardware, there's a good chance you've seen or even used a vertical bracket for your GPU. While it can certainly enhance the aesthetics of your rig, you might want to reconsider, especially if you own a Gigabyte RTX 50-series (codenamed Blackwell) graphics card.
According to a discussion thread on Quasar Zone, a popular Korean community forum for PC hardware and games, one user noticed thermal gel oozing out of their one-month-old RTX 5080 GPU. After purchasing the card, the user reported playing World of Warcraft for two hours daily. Notably, the GPU was mounted vertically using a riser kit.
While this could have been an isolated incident, further comments in the thread suggest that the melting thermal gel issue is also affecting other Gigabyte models, including the Gaming OC, Windforce, and Aorus Master series.
It's worth noting that Gigabyte launched its RTX 50-series lineup with server-grade thermal conductive gel in place of traditional thermal pads. The company claims this material provides “better heat dissipation efficiency without shifting for long-term usage.” However, it’s possible that Gigabyte didn’t fully account for vertical mounting, although thermal gel is typically non-conductive and considered safe in most scenarios.
As of writing, Gigabyte has not issued an official statement. However, a distributor representing the company did respond to the author of the original thread. They acknowledged the thermal gel issue affecting Gigabyte RTX 50-series GPUs and confirmed that discussions are ongoing with headquarters to determine future customer service policies. The representative also apologized for the confusion caused by vague guidance and promised that once a service policy is finalized, it will be publicly communicated through a separate update.
In the meantime, owners of Gigabyte RTX 50-series GPUs are advised to inspect their graphics cards for any signs of leaked thermal gel. If found, you can gently clean the excess using a soft cloth or cleaning wipes with isopropyl alcohol, making sure that the GPU is completely unplugged. However, if you’re unsure or don’t want to risk damaging an expensive component, it’s best to seek professional help from a certified service center.
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Kunal Khullar is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. He is a long time technology journalist and reviewer specializing in PC components and peripherals, and welcomes any and every question around building a PC.
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Neilbob I'm not prone to superstition at all... but did anyone involved in the creation or fabrication of the Nvidia 50 series walk under a ladder on a rainy day with an open umbrella after crossing the path of a black cat, trip over the door-step of a mirror shop and fall head-first in to the wares on Friday 13th?Reply -
UnforcedERROR Man, the 50 series is the gift that keeps on giving (me a sigh of relief I'm on older hardware).Reply -
Hooda Thunkett Reply
This right here sounds like a good explanation for what we're seeing. Or did anyone at Nvidia invoke dark magic at any time to become the defacto GPU company? Maybe wishing on a monkey's paw? Sign paperwork in blood with a dodgy and sulfurous fellow? /SNeilbob said:I'm not prone to superstition at all... but did anyone involved in the creation or fabrication of the Nvidia 50 series walk under a ladder on a rainy day with an open umbrella after crossing the path of a black cat, trip over the door-step of a mirror shop and fall head-first into the wares on Friday 13th?
So...when do we just...kind of...stop buying their stuff? Is there a line we won't cross? My guess is their accountants will just say "there's no money in the retail space" and just sell to corporations, but still... -
salgado18 Reply
I stopped, years ago. My last Nvidia was a 7600 GT, after that it has always been AMD. The RX 6700 XT is very weak in raytracing (and I wish it weren't), but 12 GB of 1440p performance (at the time) for the price of a 1080p Nvidia card?Hooda Thunkett said:This right here sounds like a good explanation for what we're seeing. Or did anyone at Nvidia invoke dark magic at any time to become the defacto GPU company? Maybe wishing on a monkey's paw? Sign paperwork in blood with a dodgy and sulfurous fellow? /S
So...when do we just...kind of...stop buying their stuff? Is there a line we won't cross? My guess is their accountants will just say "there's no money in the retail space" and just sell to corporations, but still...
I only gave in when the FX 8350 became too slow, and bought an i3-6100. But as long as I can handle a bit less features, I'm not buying Nvidia or Intel anytime soon.
(I'd still recommend the best to others, I don't want people following my fanboyism if they don't want to)
Rant asside, this seems like an issue with third party vendors, no? -
setx Fake frames with fake reliability.Reply
Intel actually had very interesting offers... from China with their Xeons, ES and mobile-to-desktop CPUs. nVidia is always overpriced though.salgado18 said:I only gave in when the FX 8350 became too slow, and bought an i3-6100. But as long as I can handle a bit less features, I'm not buying Nvidia or Intel anytime soon. -
Tbonius I don't if I'm buying this one. If you look at the pictures, it looks like the paste was squeezed out due to pressure, not overheating.Reply