Gigabyte’sRTX 50 - seriesgraphics cards are face up an strange manufacturing flaw where the pre - applied caloric gel is leaking out of the heatsink . The first cognise report come fromQuasar Zone , a popular Korean personal computer forum , where a user find their one month quondam Aorus Master RTX 5080 leaking gray putty - like cloth after light gaming of two hour per day . Notably the substance abuser cite that the card was mount vertically via a riser kit .
The trouble was quickly recognize as affecting multiple Gigabyte RTX 50 models in the same forum train of thought with various owners seeing the caloric chemical compound oozing out of the heatsink onto the PCB and PCIe time slot orbit . The takings was confirmed to be affecting Gigabyte ’s Gaming OC , Windforce , and Aorus Master variants .
Gigabyte had launched the RTX 50 series with a special thermal conductive gel in place of conventional rubber / silicone pads , touting it as “ good heat profligacy efficiency without agitate for long - term usage . ”
Quasar Zone Forums
In practice , however , the erect climbing of some rigs appears to have made the semi - soft gel more prone to drift under sobriety . According to Gigabyte’sofficial statementon April 25 , the RTX 50 and Radeon RX 9000 series bill of fare indeed use a specially orchestrate thermal gel compound between the heatsink and the VRAM / MOSFET sections . Gigabyte say that this gel is an insulating , deformable putty that can hold up temperatures up to 150 ° C before melting .
The fellowship further know that early production spate have a slightly higher volume of gel to ensure thermal coverage . The extra fabric “ may stimulate the gel to appear more prominent , protracted , and potentially separate from the designated area , ” leading to the enhancive leakage encounter by users . Importantly , the company emphasized that the leakage is just cosmetic and it “ does not compromise performance , stability , or production life-time . ” To plow the issue , Gigabyte said that it has slenderize the gel volume in subsequent output runs , and encourage pretend user to adjoin client support if they have any concerns .
Thermal gel vs. pads
Gigabyte ’s choice of thermal gel reflects an industry style toward more conductive interface materials . Unlike traditional thermal pads , Gigabyte is using a waiter - grad thermic conductive gel which is designed to provide better inter-group communication across odd component surfaces . The company implement this gel using a full automate process to reduce human wrongdoing and ensure reproducible insurance coverage compared to stock thermal launchpad applications . In principle , it can fill microscopical gaps and meliorate warmth transfer of training under heavy loads . The gel is non - metallic and electrically insulating , so it should n’t myopic - circumference part if it scat .
The company also claims it subjected the gel to rigorous tests including thermal and multi - axis free fall tests in both vertical and horizontal orientation course to ensure it stay on stable in normal manipulation . In practice session , however , exploiter plant that with heavy heatsinks and perpendicular climbing , the gel ’s semi - fluid nature allowed it to creep or drop away out over prison term , especially in early units where excess gel was applied .
The RTX 50 - serial visiting card in motion use large triple - lover coolers with thick aluminum fin stacks that cover the entire mainboard , including the VRAM and MOSFETs . For instance , in Gigabyte ’s Aorus Master Ice innovation , the heatspreader covers row of memory and potential drop regulators placed around the GPU dice . The thermal gelatin is placed between those chip shot and the metal conductive denture inside the tank . With GPUs mounted horizontally , this frame-up should not be an issue . However , several stirred owners observe their cards were in upright spatial relation , which likely allow gravity draw the piano gel downwards over weeks of operation .
Early batches of visiting card may not have accounted for this use case fully . The result is that gel on occasion slid down from unlike persona towards the PCIe slot or PCB edge . Note that this gelatin is not electrically conductive , so it should n’t scant things out , but it can leave seeable balance on the board and , in rare cases , onto the connector .
Gigabyte’s response and manufacturing updates
After initial public reports , Gigabyte ’s Korean importer and other distributors stepped in . They acknowledged on forums that Gigabyte was “ cognizant of the thermal gel issue ” with RTX-50 cards and was “ currently discussing ” it with main office . Soon thereafter , Gigabyte issued its prescribed affirmation ( cited above ) charge over - app of the thermic colloidal gel in former yield .
The company stress that this was a cosmetic defect as carrying out and temperature tryout showed no change in stableness or life . Gigabyte said it has align the gel app program physical process in newer card runs so that the cloth stays within its think surface area . As today , all new Gigabyte RTX-50 and Radeon RX 9000 GPUs should have this fix .
In pattern , Gigabyte decided not to recall already - shipped notice , likely due to the on-going demand for GPUs in general . Instead , customers with any vexation were notify to contact Gigabyte musical accompaniment or their plaza of purchase .
Continued reports and impact on use
Despite Gigabyte ’s assurances , some owners uphold to report issues around the thermal colloidal gel leaks . For example , one user postedthat anRTX 5080he’d used for only a week was already leak gelatin , and he vowed he “ never want[s ] to have any other Cartesian product ” from Gigabyte . Another substance abuser note that the gel “ did n’t even come along run , just whole slipping out of position ” . In all these cases , owners observed no overheating or release in carrying out .
So far , no confirmed cause has shown the visiting card failing or run significantly hotter after the passing water . In other word , the problem is mostly ornamental . Gigabyte and reviewers agree that the GPUs operate unremarkably as benchmarks have not changed and no Blackwell - specific failure have been linked to the gelatin . Having suppose that , longsighted - term reliability is still changeable . If gel step by step transmigrate away from the VRAM buffalo chip , those chips could see more or less higher temperatures under heavy lading . No one has report component legal injury yet , but it ’s a potential vexation . At minimum , leak gel can trap debris or block full contact lens if it dry unevenly over time . Because of this , possessor are advised to monitor their cards for any performance drops or temperature spike .
Practical advice for consumers
Inspect and clean . If you own a Gigabyte RTX 50 - series or even an Radeon RX 9000 ( especially an former batch ) , periodically check under the heatsink and around the PCB for any white or gray residue . If you see leak gel , gently cleanse it off with isopropyl alcohol and a piano cloth . Only do this when the PC is powered off and unplugged .
If you have your GPU in a erect backing or compositor’s case , be cognisant that sobriety can exasperate this issue . If possible , instal your GPU horizontally until you ’re sure the thermal gel has decide . At least during the first month of use , you might run benchmark or stress test with monitoring to ensure temperature stay normal .
While Gigabyte has not proffer a broad reminiscence , they may plow individual RMA case if a customer is concerned . If your card exhibits expectant sum of leakage or any unexplained thermal problems , contact Gigabyte support or your retailer . Keep in judgement that under normal conditions ( as Gigabyte notes ) , performance should be unaffected . Documenting photos of the escape when contacting sustenance can help .
If you are plan to buy a new Gigabyte - branded GPU , know that the latest production runs have the gel app adjust . seek to corrupt from a retail merchant that get livestock after late April / May 2025 . If purchasing used , ask the vender if the notice has ever leak or been opened . instead , view theoretical account from other manufacturers if you desire to avoid this fussy colloidal gel - based ice chest aim altogether .
Remember , even with this upshot , the cards have go well for many user . Several account emphasize that even with the leaked thermal colloidal gel , the GPU still go on stress mental testing and gaming benchmarks . Gigabyte and autonomous reviewer have not see any accelerated wear or failures right away because of the gel . Nonetheless , the breakthrough of any blemish in a eminent - end , expensive component is understandably frustrating . Being inform and proactively checking your card is the best way to ensure long - term ataraxis of mind .
