Question GPU Hotspot hitting 105c

[1987paulh]

Hey guys, I'm having an issue with my MSI RTX 3080 and hoping for some advice on what I can do about it. So the problem is when i'm playing graphically demanding games the 'Hotspot Temp' is hitting 105c+ and the fans understandably go insane and it sounds like the PC is ready to take off! but my bigger worry is the potential risk this temp could be harmful to the card, the 'GPU Temperature' and 'GPU Memory Junction' are hitting temps of 70-80c during these gaming sessions with just the hotspot being 105c.
Initially I thought the airflow in the case could be responsible but have recently added more fans, now it has 2x 140mm intake fans at the front and 3x 120mm outtake fans and the hotspot temp had no noticable changes, after a lot of searching around online I've stumbled onto the idea that replacing the thermal pads and paste within the graphics card could solve the issue, however I've not found any posts where people had changed the pads/paste for the purpose of lowering 'hotspot' temp but infact to lower the memory temps and some of these posts have reported an increase in hotspot temps after changing the pads and paste which is very concerning.

Any advice on possible solutions would be very appreciated.

Edit- Forgot to add I don't overclock and I clean the dust out regularly.

 

[Deleted member 362816]

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/copper-plate-mod-rtx-3080

This same question gets asked quite often. Here is your best option.

 

[Phaaze88]

@1987paulh
That big of a gap between gpu core and gpu hotspot - it's not memory hotspot - points to a contact issue between the die and cooler cold plate, which can be caused by:
-significant gpu sag.
-incorrectly reassembled cooler.[If you never took it apart, disregard.]
-thermal paste has encountered pump-out or dried up.
-thermal pads are thicker or more firm than the originals.[Only applies if you changed the stock thermal pads.]

 

[1987paulh]

@1987paulh
That big of a gap between gpu core and gpu hotspot - it's not memory hotspot - points to a contact issue between the die and cooler cold plate, which can be caused by:
-significant gpu sag.
-incorrectly reassembled cooler.[If you never took it apart, disregard.]
-thermal paste has encountered pump-out or dried up.
-thermal pads are thicker or more firm than the originals.[Only applies if you changed the stock thermal pads.]

I've never heard of GPU sag but after googling it and inspecting the PC there is a slight 'sag' to the card, I will try and fashion a DIY prop to hold it up straight and see if that has any effect.
as for the paste and pads I've never opened the card up before so its just got the stock stuff, I was going to order Noctua NT-H1 3.5g and Thermalright Thermal Pad 12.8 W/mK
any advice on what hardness the pads should be?

 

[Phaaze88]

NT-H1 is susceptible to pump out on some bare die applications, so it might not work here.
NT-H2, Gelid GC Extreme, Prolimatech PK3, Kingpin KPx, and Cooler Mastergel Pro V2 are known to work on bare dies. I'm sure there's more, but I don't know them.

Thermalright Thermal Pad 12.8 W/mK
any advice on what hardness the pads should be?

You don't need to even look at the pads unless you tear them, and even then... messing with pads is a pain in the butt. You could get pads that are the same size as all the stock ones and still screw up, because the new pads were either too soft or too firm.
"70- 80C GPU Memory Junction is great, and a non issue until 95C or higher.

 

[1987paulh]

Just wanted to post update for anyone else in the same boat that might stumble upon this, I put on some NT-H2 thermal paste and replaced the 4 thermal pads around the chip and this has significantly bought down the hotspot temp, it has not gone over 86c since the changes!

 

[Devouur]

Just wanted to post update for anyone else in the same boat that might stumble upon this, I put on some NT-H2 thermal paste and replaced the 4 thermal pads around the chip and this has significantly bought down the hotspot temp, it has not gone over 86c since the changes!

yup, having this issue with my zotac 3090. core temps were pushing 88 degrees and hotspot was 105, memory 80, after a repaste the core dropped to 72, but the hot spot stayed at 105(memory also stayed the same).