It turned out that the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5080 thermal gel can leak when the video card is installed vertically (updated)

The first complaint has appeared about the thermal interface that Gigabyte uses in its top-end GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 Aorus Master series graphics cards.

According to the user, the Gigabyte RTX 5080 Aorus Master card worked in this mode for about a month – two hours a day in World of Warcraft. gravity began to flow, which can not only worsen heat transfer, but also potentially threaten the contamination of the PCIe connector or short circuit.

Gigabyte positions the thermal gel as a “server-class” solution, resistant to high temperatures and designed for long-term operation.

It is reported that a similar gel is also used in the Gigabyte RTX 5090 Aorus Master, where it is applied in large volumes to the memory chips and VRM.

There is no official response from the manufacturer yet, but the distributor has already announced that it is in talks with Gigabyte.

At this stage, this is an isolated case, but it emphasizes the importance of testing new technical solutions in real-world conditions, especially when working with powerful graphics cards and atypical configurations.

Updated

An official comment from Gigabyte has been received. The company emphasized that it takes into account all user feedback. According to them, the thermal gel was developed specifically to ensure optimal contact and is applied during the production process using automated systems. To allay possible concerns, the manufacturer noted that the gel has undergone comprehensive testing, including stability tests in both horizontal and vertical positions. It is separately emphasized that the material retains a given shape when applied correctly and is able to withstand temperatures up to 150 degrees without signs of melting or liquefaction.

However, the company acknowledged that early batches of Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5080 video cards could have used an increased volume of thermal gel to expand the thermal coverage area. As a result, excess material could be visible on the surface of the device. At the same time, the company clarified that such manifestations are purely cosmetic in nature and do not affect the performance or reliability of the product. Subsequently, production processes were adjusted to optimize the volume of gel applied.