Gigabyte has acknowledged the problem of liquid thermal pads (the manufacturer calls them thermal gel) on GeForce RTX 50 and Radeon RX 9000 series graphics cards. Earlier, one of the owners of the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5080 Aorus Master ICE graphics card complained about this problem.
Image Source: Gigabyte
The company explains in a press release that this “thermal gel is designed to provide optimal contact with uneven component surfaces, and its application process is fully automated to eliminate the human factor compared to traditional thermal pads.”
Gigabyte adds that the thermal gel is an insulating, deformable, putty-like compound. It is designed to stay in place when applied correctly and is capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 150°C before melting or liquefying. Graphics cards using the thermal gel undergo durability tests, including multi-axis drops and long-term operating simulations, including extreme environmental conditions, in both horizontal and vertical orientations.
According to the manufacturer, “Some early batches of RTX 50 series cards were slightly over-applied to ensure adequate thermal coverage. Over-applying may result in excess gel appearing more noticeable, expanded, and potentially extending beyond the designated application area. While the appearance of excess gel may be disturbing, this cosmetic variation does not impact the performance, reliability, or lifespan of the card.”
The issue with the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5080 Aorus Master ICE that was mentioned earlier is that the thermal gel has already started to creep up on the motherboard’s PCIe slot, which could cause a lot more problems for its owner.
Gigabyte said it has already adjusted the amount of thermal gel applied. The company recommends that anyone with questions contact their local Gigabyte support team for assistance.