NVIDIA’s graphics cards, and more specifically their heat sinks, are the subject of yet another controversy. The RTX 3080 and RTX A6000 are suffering from oxidation in the steam chambers that make up their cooling system. Over time, the chambers can oxidize, causing GPU temperatures to soar (via Quasarsone)!
RTX 3080 and RTX A6000, cases of oxidized steam chambers appear!
Before we start, it would seem that the problem concerns a fairly small batch of cards, especially as it seems totally unusual. However, some boards may have heatsink oxidation problems. Indeed, during an inspection of boards displaying abnormally high temperatures, a technician quickly discovered the problem. On the copper base, an oxidized zone can be seen pitting the surface of the base.
When you know how a vapor chamber works, you immediately understand the problems we’ll be dealing with. A vapor chamber is a hollow copper surface filled with liquid. As the components heat up, this liquid evaporates and condenses in a cooler part of the chamber. Naturally, the chamber must be sealed for it to function properly. However, with a hole in its surface, the liquid has undoubtedly escaped over time, resulting in a loss of heatsink efficiency.
Now the million-euro question remains: what caused the problem? An impurity in the liquid? A variation in copper quality? A problem with the integrity of the chamber? Difficult to say. In any case, what is certain is that copper oxide or sulfate formations have been discovered inside the chambers. This kind of reaction doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes time.
In any case, when buying second-hand, if the card is no longer covered by any kind of extended warranty, it’s best to dismantle it quietly and make sure that everything’s fine.
