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Some NVIDIA GPUs from EVGA are burning out, here’s why

If you own an NVIDIA GTX 1070 or a GTX 1080 that comes from EVGA you might want to power your PC down as reports continue to pop up that the GPUs are burning out.

A number of users have taken to Reddit and the EVGA forums to complain about their latest graphics card burning out describing a “terrible mechanical burning smell” coming from the PC after it unexpectedly shut down.

The problem has been identified as a failure by EVGA to included thermal pads on the voltage regulator modules (VRM) in the GPUs. This problem was first identified by Tom’s Hardware (you’ll need to translate that link if you can’t speak German) in its review of the EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW GPU.

The publication found that during benchmarks the VRM was reaching temperatures of almost 107 degrees centigrade without being overclocked in the Furmark benchmark. What is concerning is that all of these tests were conducted with ambient temperatures at 22 degrees with air conditioning.

At the time that review was published there were very few reports of the card burning out and only recently have more reports of cards burning out surfaced.

In response to Tom’s Hardware’s tests EVGA tested the cards again and yielded the following result. “The results in both tests show the temperature of PWM and memory is within the spec tolerance under the same stress test, and is working as originally designed with no issues.”

The manufacturer goes onto say that it realises customers prefer lower temperatures and it is amending the situation by allowing customers to request a pack of free thermal pads.

Now, we’re not so sure everybody who buys a top of the line GPU is versed in the ways of deconstructing a GPU and if you don’t know what you’re doing you could void the warranty on the card.

Alternatively according to some users on the EVGA forum, the manufacturer will replace the card for a new one which has the thermal pads installed.

Now, EVGA hasn’t done anything malicious here, the firm did its due diligence and found that its thermal temperatures were within the bounds of what they should be.

What EVGA didn’t account for however is that people don’t use their GPU under test conditions.

Sure, using Furmark as a way to stress a GPU is nothing short of abuse but people often overclock their GPUs and, in the case of this past weekend in Gauteng, use their PCs during heatwaves where ambient temperatures are far higher than the 30 degrees EVGA used in its tests.

If you’re in the habit of stressing your GPU or just worried about frying your new card it’s recommended that you order the thermal pad kit or if you aren’t comfortable dissecting a GPU you should contact EVGA for a replacement.

 

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