Nvidia RTX 5000 cards exhibit PCB hotspots that could threaten longevity, according to Igor's Lab

Nvidia RTX 5000 cards face potential overheating issues, risking longevity.

: Igor Wallossek from Igor's Lab identified PCB hotspots in Nvidia RTX 5000 cards, especially on PNY RTX 5070 OC and Palit RTX 5080 Gaming Pro OC models. The hotspots result from a cramped VRM layout with FETs, chokes, drivers, and vias, causing heat to concentrate in power delivery areas. To mitigate this, Igor suggests using thermal putty and thicker pads, yet Nvidia hasn't responded to these findings. The issue raises concerns about electromigration and PCB resin's glass-transition temperature being exceeded during heavy gaming, impacting the cards' durability.

Igor Wallossek from Igor's Lab has published findings illustrating critical hotspots in the printed circuit boards (PCBs) of Nvidia's RTX 5000 series, notably among Blackwell AIB partner cards. These hotspots are a consequence of design decisions placing power delivery components such as FETs, chokes, and drivers in tight clusters for compact card designs. Key tests, including a sustained "torture loop" on models like the PNY RTX 5070 OC and the Palit RTX 5080 Gaming Pro OC, revealed temperatures spiking up to 107°C while other areas, such as the GPU core, remained significantly cooler around 70°C.

The concern's root is tied to how these components funnel hundreds of amps through limited areas, concentrating heat significantly both vertically and laterally due to PCB trace thickness of merely 35 – 70 µm. Wallossek suggests that this configuration might hard-press the cards' long-term viability, limiting their lifespan to just a few years under heavy usage. The effect becomes more worrying considering factors like electromigration and breaching the glass-transition temperature of typical PCB resin, highlighted during intense gaming loads.

While there seems to be some reliance on partner self-certification and Nvidia’s internal Green Light program that centers around GPU and memory sensors for compliance checks, Nvidia has yet to address this situation publicly. Comments from engineers on Igor's Lab underscore this self-certification angle, indicating a potential oversight in checking holistic thermal performance. Moreover, Wallossek criticizes the thermal guidelines provided by Nvidia, noting that they are validated under optimal conditions, which poorly reflect real-world high-moisture and less-ventilated environments where gamers typically operate.

In pursuit of a solution, Wallossek documents an expedient fix involving the application of thermal putty and thicker thermal pads to convey heat efficiently to the backplate, achieving notable temperature reductions. For instance, this adjustment saw the Palit RTX 5080 Gaming Pro OC's temperature drop from 80.5°C to 70.3°C, and similarly on the PNY RTX 5070 OC model, reducing from 107°C to below 95°C.

This topic forms part of broader industry discussions regarding thermal design and product longevity, urging manufacturers to reevaluate current validation protocols and thermal management strategies before future releases.

Sources: Igor's Lab, TechSpot

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