GPU overheats (possible bad factory thermal paste application?)

[Iggy Wolf]

So of course I recently RMA'd my Gigabyte RTX 2060 Super because it was running hot at 83C and sometimes higher, even at 100% fan speed. Gigabyte fixed it about as well as you can expect (read: NOTHING AT ALL WAS CHANGED) They might as well have not bothered and simply returned me the card as it was, and I wouldn't be surprised if they did. I know the GPU is thermal throttling because the boost clock jumps between 1800 and 1900, causing stuttering in the game.

Decreasing the temp limit as well as the power usage stabilizes it somewhat, but only because I'm artificially throttling it myself at that point. I'm not the only person in the reviews for the card to have an overheating issue, but if they're not gonna bother fixing it, I don't see the point in RMAing it a 2nd time. Could the problem possibly be bad factory thermal paste application, and would reapplying it fix the problem? Their idea of a "fix" was to simply put it in and test the BIOS (if I'm complaining about overheating, WTF does that have to do with the BIOS?)

[Gru]

Ideally I'd ask for a refund on it. Or if you feel brave like i did with my gpu, just repaste it and the problem should be fixed. Just bear in mind that your warranty will probably be voided if you do it.

[Iggy Wolf]

Originally posted by Gru:

Ideally I'd ask for a refund on it. Or if you feel brave like i did with my gpu, just repaste it and the problem should be fixed. Just bear in mind that your warranty will probably be voided if you do it.

I wish. The card under the current return policy is "Non-Refundable" and their Replacement policy only covers for 30 days, which have already passed. I would have been happy had Gigabyte simply replaced my card with a new one, but they didn't think the current card warranted a replacement, but didn't bother changing anything with the current one either.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Never rma a brand new product back to the maker, always deal with the retailer first.

Never buy new hardware and let it sit around either, stress test the heck out of it and test each port it offers while you are within the retailers return policy.

Gigabyte obviously found nothing wrong with it, to which I will now ask you if you could please explain your case cooling setup as this could be the issue here.

[Iggy Wolf]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Never rma a brand new product back to the maker, always deal with the retailer first.

Never buy new hardware and let it sit around either, stress test the heck out of it and test each port it offers while you are within the retailers return policy.

Gigabyte obviously found nothing wrong with it, to which I will now ask you if you could please explain your case cooling setup as this could be the issue here.

They didn't find anything wrong with it because they didn't bother addressing the heat issue. I wasn't the only one with the issue and this card, even its non-Super version, had this issue, to the point they had to create a revised version with a different heatsink. I have a mid-case with two exhaust fans. But I doubt adding an intake would improve it.

My current previous card, an ASUS GTX 970 OC, reached only as high as 77-78C, on full load, 100% fan usage. This card, at 100% fan usage, at full load, reaches 84-85C, and that's WITHOUT MSI Afterburner limiting it to 83C. Even after adjusting with an aggressive fan curve, the ONLY way it gets cooler is by artificially limiting the GPU temp limit in Afterburner, but only because it throttles its power/temp limit down to 77C and 91% power limit.

[Zireth]

Firstly, I like the sound of trying to stress the graphics card out it should stabilize the card.

If that fails, I’d look at trying to get the thermal paste replaced, but be extremely careful and don’t assume you know how to do it without looking online, you don’t have the money to replace it.

If you have disposable income, you could invest in an liquid cooler (preferably not hardline) with an appropriate GPU harness so it’s no longer being cooled by air, but beware, liquid cooling is not for the faint of heart.

You could try putting more fans in the case, preferably noctua fans

If all else fails, you can put it back into it’s box, seal it and try to sell it on eBay for a little less than the MSRP and try to turn it into a better GPU.

[Iggy Wolf]

Originally posted by Rachel, The Promised End:

Firstly, I like the sound of trying to stress the graphics card out it should stabilize the card.

If that fails, I’d look at trying to get the thermal paste replaced, but be extremely careful and don’t assume you know how to do it without looking online, you don’t have the money to replace it.

If you have disposable income, you could invest in an liquid cooler (preferably not hardline) with an appropriate GPU harness so it’s no longer being cooled by air, but beware, liquid cooling is not for the faint of heart.

You could try putting more fans in the case, preferably noctua fans

If all else fails, you can put it back into it’s box, seal it and try to sell it on eBay for a little less than the MSRP and try to turn it into a better GPU.

Thanks. I do have Noctua thermal paste on hand, although as you said, one has to be extremely careful, and honestly, I've NEVER changed thermal paste before in my life, and do NOT want to risk destroying a new card just to lower a few degrees C. Although yes, my case could use another fan. I currently have two exhaust fans, although the one in the back is an old 80 mm Altec fan, and I have no intake fan (for the intake fan, I would actually need an adapter as I've used the last and only spot on the motherboard for the 2nd exhaust fan).

Currently, I've got the temp limit for it lowered to 76 C and only using 88% power limit, but I'm not gaming at 2K or 4K, so it's still overkill for my 1080p 60fps needs (or rather, limiting the power usage hasn't greatly affected the FPS, as its still operating at its base and boost clock frequency of 1680 and 1720).

[Vulkan]

You have no intakes?! Well there's your problem or at least playing a major role in the problem. Your pc case sounds like a hot box at this point , is it out of the question to buy a new case with high airflow and some high quality fans ? You also said you would need to use to an adaptor to add additional fans? So how many fan headers does your motherboard support ?

[Iggy Wolf]

Originally posted by SavageSoutherner:

You have no intakes?! Well there's your problem or at least playing a major role in the problem. Your pc case sounds like a hot box at this point , is it out of the question to buy a new case with high airflow and some high quality fans ? You also said you would need to use to an adapter to add additional fans? So how many fan headers does your motherboard support ?

Well, I have an old Cooler Master Mid-Tower cooling case lying around, but I think it'd be more of a pain in the ass to transfer everything from my current tower to that one. Certainly, it wouldn't improve the temps that much since it's partially the card simply having a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ heatsink. And my current case does have room for an intake fan in the front. I just need to find an adapter that allows for a 4 pin connection, and buy an intake fan. I'm sure that will still definitely improve my airflow.

My case isn't a hot box, but the hot air being blown from the GPU does currently get trapped in the area the GPU is in, and is poorly ventilated out with only exhaust fans pulling the air out, but no intake to push cool air in. I just saw an Arctic F2 fan on Amazon, so wondering whether that one would be good as well. The one adapter I found unfortunately is only a Molex connector for 3 pin connections. If you can recommend any 4 pin adapter, that'd be great.

[Iggy Wolf]

I ordered a Noctua NF-A9 92 mm fan and an Arctic F9 Silent 92 mm fan along with a DZS Elec 4 pin 1-3 way PWM splitter connector for the motherboard. One will act as the rear exhaust fan and the other will be the intake fan. I already have a 120 mm exhaust fan on the side. Hopefully, once I connect the other 2 fans, it'll provide proper airflow and will cool the card a bit more.

[[☥] - CJ -]

Bad factory paste is definitely possible
i redid my 1060's paste a few months ago and temps dropped up to 30C, which now allows a MUCH higher overclock with still lower temps than previously.

So yeah.

However
The Boost Clock is doing what its supposed to, going from 1800-1900 depending on temps, thats how the Boost system works. Lower temp = higher clocks, higher temp = lowering clocks

Such a minor dip in clocks should not be whats causing your stuttering.

I would clean the drivers in safe mode with DDU and go from there.

(Power limitations can cause stuttering), Raise the Power and Temp limit with Afterburner and see what that does.

[Iggy Wolf]

Originally posted by ☥ - CJ - 8/6/19:

Bad factory paste is definitely possible
i redid my 1060's paste a few months ago and temps dropped up to 30C, which now allows a MUCH higher overclock with still lower temps than previously.

So yeah.

However
The Boost Clock is doing what its supposed to, going from 1800-1900 depending on temps, thats how the Boost system works. Lower temp = higher clocks, higher temp = lowering clocks

Such a minor dip in clocks should not be whats causing your stuttering.

I would clean the drivers in safe mode with DDU and go from there.

(Power limitations can cause stuttering), Raise the Power and Temp limit with Afterburner and see what that does.

Actually, I had to lower it, because at the higher temps (81-83C), it started to throttle the card and cause stuttering. When I lowered the temp limit and power usage, it stabilized. Yes, the core clock is lower, but there's less rapid dips and fluctuations, and the stuttering completely vanished.

[[☥] - CJ -]

If you know how to redo the paste yourself that may be worth looking into
I didnt even use any special paste, just cooler master paste that came with a 212 EVO.

If you do redo the paste
THIN layer spread across the GPU DIE (so the entire GPU is covered, not just in the middle), then add a small dab in the center. Thats all i did to get the results i got.

[Zireth]

I think this is better visualized than just explained by words.

Heres a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDLQ7FjPMf8

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Don't put any fans on the side, close that off. The gpu will draw cool air from the front of case. But yes at least 1-2 intake fans and 1-2 exhaust fans is good idea, minimum. If must use a aide fan, make it intake, not exhaust.

[Iggy Wolf]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Don't put any fans on the side, close that off. The gpu will draw cool air from the front of case. But yes at least 1-2 intake fans and 1-2 exhaust fans is good idea, minimum. If must use a aide fan, make it intake, not exhaust.

Ok, so I have a side fan, exhaust 120 mm. Right now it's acting as an exhaust fan. When I get the other 2 fans, should I make the front and side act as intake and the rear act as exhaust then?