Gigabyte Addresses Thermal Gel Leakage in RTX 50 Series GPUs, Attributes Issue to "Higher Volume" of Gel in Early Batches

Gigabyte has issued an official statement regarding the thermal gel leakage issue that recently surfaced with its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards. The company clarified that the problem stems from the application of a "slightly higher volume" of thermal gel during the early production batches

For context, the concern arose after a user reported significant thermal gel leakage from their Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5080 GPU after just one month of usage. The leakage, which saw the gel spreading towards the PCIe connection, was particularly alarming given that Gigabyte’s new design replaces traditional thermal pads with a specialized "server-grade" thermal conductivity gel.

In their statement, Gigabyte explained:

"In some early production batches for the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 50 Series, a slightly higher volume of gel was applied to ensure sufficient thermal coverage. The overapplication may cause the excessive gel to appear more prominent, extended, and could potentially be separated from the designated area."

While the appearance of excess gel is understandably concerning, Gigabyte assured customers that the leakage does not impact the graphics card’s performance, reliability, or lifespan. They further emphasized that the gel used can endure temperatures of up to 150°C before becoming runny, and adjustments have already been made in subsequent production runs to correct the amount of gel applied.

Importantly, Gigabyte noted that the issue could potentially affect a broader batch of GPUs, including certain Radeon RX 9000 series cards, all of which utilize the same conductivity gel technology. However, the company reassured users that there is no defect with the gel itself and that the necessary production corrections have already been implemented for future shipments.

Despite acknowledging the manufacturing flaw, Gigabyte did not specify whether instances of thermal gel leakage would be covered under warranty. Given that the issue stems from a production inconsistency, many customers might reasonably expect it to qualify for warranty service. Nevertheless, the company chose to focus its statement on assuring that upcoming units will not experience the same problem thanks to the revised gel application protocols.

As this issue continues to circulate within the enthusiast community, many will be watching closely to see whether Gigabyte follows up with more detailed warranty guidance. In the meantime, users who purchased an early batch RTX 50 series GPU may want to monitor their cards closely for any signs of thermal gel migration.

What’s your take on Gigabyte’s response to the thermal gel leakage issue? Do you think cosmetic defects like this should always be covered under warranty? Share your thoughts below!