Hello,
To get the VRAM temps of my RTX 3090 FE down a bit, I replaced the original thermal pads on both sides (GPU + backplate) with GELID GP-Ultimate 1.5mm.
Cutting template 3090FE
I have read several times on the Internet what sensational results people have achieved with it (down to -20 ° C) and I just can't confirm the result at all.
In the best case 2-4 ° C, but actually more the same temps as with the original pads - under full load around 104 ° C (without additional cooling mind you. If I mount additional copper heatsinks and a Noctua Industrial 3000Rpm in pull, I'll get there down - but still not satisfactory.)
I didn't use the Thermalright Odyssey as you can see in most of the videos on Youtube, but the GELID should actually have an even better thermal conductivity. Especially since GELID and Fujipoly were mentioned in the comments, so it will certainly not be the PAD brand, and I also worked very neatly and carefully.
On the GPU side everything should actually fit, after the re-paste with Thermalgrizzly Kryonaut I have a little better temperatures on the GPU, so the strength of the pads there is just right, otherwise there would be no good contact between cooler and GPU.
When looking for the "error" or why the results were so unsatisfactory, the only thing that came into question for me was the passively cooled back. So I screwed the card on again and found that the imprint pattern of the memory chips on the thermal pads was very uneven. In other words, there should be good contact pressure on the PCI slot side, since the memory has left a good impression on the pads there. On the other side - ie on the side of the Geforce LED of the PCB - there were hardly any imprints to be seen, if at all.
Now I ask myself whether the 1.5mm thickness, which you read about on the Internet, is not enough for the backplate side of the FE? And actually 2mm would be better there (thicker = more contact pressure of the backplate)? Does anyone have experience with it?
I would like to exchange information about it before I exchange (again) unnecessarily.