Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5080 “AORUS Master” Under Fire After Thermal Gel Leakage Emerges in Just One Month
A concerning report has surfaced regarding Gigabyte’s high-end GeForce RTX 5080 AORUS MASTER, with a user experiencing thermal gel leakage after just one month of use—an issue now raising questions about the brand’s quality assurance process.
The issue was first reported on the Korean tech forum QuasarZone, where a user detailed how their RTX 5080 AORUS MASTER ICE variant began leaking thermal gel to the extent that it visibly seeped toward the PCIe riser, prompting fears of potential hardware damage. The affected card was mounted vertically, which may have worsened the spread of the liquified material.
What Is the Thermal Gel?
Unlike traditional thermal pads, Gigabyte uses a server-grade thermal gel as part of the cooling solution for the RTX 5080 AORUS MASTER. According to Gigabyte’s official specifications, the material is non-fluid and optimized for long-term thermal stability. However, in this incident, the gel appears to have broken down prematurely, indicating a manufacturing or material defect rather than user error or long-term degradation.
Given that the GPU is priced in excess of $1,500 USD, the presence of such a defect after just 30 days is a significant concern for premium consumers. While the gel is non-conductive, its migration across the PCB and towards critical areas like the PCIe connector could impede proper operation or trigger electrical connection issues if left unresolved.
Gigabyte Responds to the Incident
The issue quickly garnered attention, and according to a follow-up post on QuasarZone, Gigabyte’s distributor acknowledged the report and is now in active discussions with the manufacturer. However, no formal warranty or RMA policy currently addresses thermal gel leakage, meaning Gigabyte may have to issue new guidance or initiate a recall if further cases arise.
This incident follows a series of scattered complaints across various RTX 50-series models, though most of those have centered on driver behavior and power draw irregularities rather than physical hardware malfunctions.
Industry Implications
As the GPU market continues to push ultra-high-end products with complex cooling solutions, component integrity and QA consistency remain under scrutiny. The failure of a premium cooling material—especially one marketed as “server-grade”—within a single month undermines confidence and demands transparent corrective action from the manufacturer.
Have you experienced any thermal issues with recent RTX 50-series GPUs? Should Gigabyte replace or revise the thermal solution for its AORUS Master lineup? Share your thoughts with the community.
