Fried? 3080 Founders black screen after replacing thermal pads

[teskone]

Update
Nvidia accepted my RMA request as an "extraordinary one" and sent me a new or refurbished gpu

 

[evernessince]

I might have unscrewed the leaf bracket screws unevenly, causing the gpu die to bend or to allow micro air bubbles to get in?

The idea that air bubbles can get between the die and the cooler has been debunked by Derbauer. It's not possible.

When you are replacing thermal pads you have to match the stock pad's thickness and compressability. In most cases you are going to want to contact the manufacturer for that information. In your case this may have been what caused your issue. Buildzoid had a video some time back on this about his experience damaging a card by installing the wrong stiffness pads and why he now always contacts the manufacturer if he isn't sure.

Squishing them down was definitely not a good idea either.

In regards to the scews: Yes, you want to ensure you are screwing in the four GPU screws evenly.

Looks like you are getting a replacement which is great but I recommend following the above tips to avoid future issues.

 

[terroralpha]

The idea that air bubbles can get between the die and the cooler has been debunked by Derbauer. It's not possible.

When you are replacing thermal pads you have to match the stock pad's thickness and compressability. In most cases you are going to want to contact the manufacturer for that information. In your case this may have been what caused your issue. Buildzoid had a video some time back on this about his experience damaging a card by installing the wrong stiffness pads and why he now always contacts the manufacturer if he isn't sure.

Squishing them down was definitely not a good idea either.

In regards to the scews: Yes, you want to ensure you are screwing in the four GPU screws evenly.

Looks like you are getting a replacement which is great but I recommend following the above tips to avoid future issues.

the derbaur video you are referring to assumes that you are using either stock or correct size thermal pads, AND that they are applied correctly and in the correct locations. the OP said that when they applied new thermal pads that this started. incorrectly applied thermal pads or pads that are too thick will prevent the cooler for applying good (or any) pressure on the die.

i see a bunch of bold spots that clearly did not have any thermal paste there. the cooler did not sit on the die correctly. if it did, the paste would have spread everywhere. i use to run a decent size crypto farm, i repasted all my GPUs at least once. i've also been watercooling my GPUs for over a decade. i have never seen patches like that when opening one of my GPUs.

this GPU died due to air bubbles. my guess is that the pads were the correct size but OP applied a thermal pad where it did not belong, thus preventing the cooler from sitting on the die correctly and spreading the thermal paste

 

[Ripcord]

Its much more likely that the improved heat transfer on the core and memory allowed them to run faster for longer, placing more strain on the VRM that eventually failed

 

[terroralpha]

Its much more likely that the improved heat transfer on the core and memory allowed them to run faster for longer, placing more strain on the VRM that eventually failed

can't tell if trolling. this makes no sense. if this was true, then every watercooled GPU should just die. watercooled GPUs typically stay in 40-50C range when gaming. if dropping the temps by like 30C won't kill a GPU, i'm sure that the 2C drop (at best) from better pads won't do anything.

 

[Ripcord]

can't tell if trolling. this makes no sense. if this was true, then every watercooled GPU should just die. watercooled GPUs typically stay in 40-50C range when gaming. if dropping the temps by like 30C won't kill a GPU, i'm sure that the 2C drop (at best) from better pads won't do anything.

They don't kill the GPU the fry the VRM. look at the original post. changed the thermal pads on the memory and used better compound on the GPU same crap left on the VRM. the extra stress eventually kills them.
most factory/aftermarket watercoolers also cool the vrm's on the card. the ones that don't don't last very long. look on ebay for busted water-cooled cards take your pick.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Update
Nvidia accepted my RMA request as an "extraordinary one" and sent me a new or refurbished gpu

That they accepted an RMA request from a card that has been opened and modified is rather remarkable. Mad props to all involved. You for being honest and them for actually replacing the hardware. That's looking after your customers, something AMD should have done from the get-go with the 7900 XTX and its cooling issue, instead of shrugging people off.

 

[Vya Domus]

That's looking after your customers, something AMD should have done from the get-go with the 7900 XTX and its cooling issue, instead of shrugging people off.

As far as I remember Nvidia never officially addressed the high memory temperatures on 3000 series FE cards which was OP's core issue here, at least AMD eventually did. I see no reason to praise either however.

 

[neatfeatguy]

That they accepted an RMA request from a card that has been opened and modified is rather remarkable. Mad props to all involved. You for being honest and them for actually replacing the hardware. That's looking after your customers, something AMD should have done from the get-go with the 7900 XTX and its cooling issue, instead of shrugging people off.

AMD is working with people on replacing the cards. Tomshardware has an article covering that AMD is offering replacements and even Techspot made mention in their article that AMD is working on replacing faulty cards.

AMD Vows to Replace Overheating Radeon RX 7900 XTX Boards

Senior Vice President and General Manager of AMD Talks RX 7900 XTX Issues

www.tomshardware.com

Unfortunately, it seems right now that AMD is behind on inventory to be able to continue to replace the cards from what Guru3D and TweakTown are reporting.

 

[delshay]

Update
Nvidia accepted my RMA request as an "extraordinary one" and sent me a new or refurbished gpu

Very surprise they accepted.

 

[eidairaman1]

AMD is working with people on replacing the cards. Tomshardware has an article covering that AMD is offering replacements and even Techspot made mention in their article that AMD is working on replacing faulty cards.

AMD Vows to Replace Overheating Radeon RX 7900 XTX Boards

Senior Vice President and General Manager of AMD Talks RX 7900 XTX Issues

www.tomshardware.com

Unfortunately, it seems right now that AMD is behind on inventory to be able to continue to replace the cards from what Guru3D and TweakTown are reporting.

Did you share this on the FUD topics of AMD stocks and the 7900xtx having high hotspot temps?

 

[Dr. Dro]

AMD is working with people on replacing the cards. Tomshardware has an article covering that AMD is offering replacements and even Techspot made mention in their article that AMD is working on replacing faulty cards.

AMD Vows to Replace Overheating Radeon RX 7900 XTX Boards

Senior Vice President and General Manager of AMD Talks RX 7900 XTX Issues

www.tomshardware.com

Unfortunately, it seems right now that AMD is behind on inventory to be able to continue to replace the cards from what Guru3D and TweakTown are reporting.

Yeah, after the drama on reddit and people complaining and exposing their utterly difficult to work with (being nice here) customer service, and the extensive media coverage... they were ready to brush this under the rug, from what I saw. Either way, now that they *are* doing something about it, no use complaining too much.

Still, it did turn me off from this generation of GPUs entirely. Nvidia's high prices coupled with AMD's nonsense definitely did a number on my confidence and interest.

 

[shovenose]

Yeah, after the drama on reddit and people complaining and exposing their utterly difficult to work with (being nice here) customer service, and the extensive media coverage... they were ready to brush this under the rug, from what I saw. Either way, now that they *are* doing something about it, no use complaining too much.

Still, it did turn me off from this generation of GPUs entirely. Nvidia's high prices coupled with AMD's nonsense definitely did a number on my confidence and interest.

Arc B999 where are you! Lol