ilyama
For me, if you have a GPU under 70 degres for your regular utilisation, it will not be a problem at all without pads, even without new bios !
 
The only thermal issue that those cards have its that they are not the best at all for this generation !
All brand had exploded cards too... it happens, thats all !

Gawg36
After all this, which was massively overblown, I reckon the next gen of cards by EVGA will be the safest and possibly the coolest among all brands.
Even though EVGA got loads of unfair negative press, they won't want any of this repeated whether true or not. The QC will be very high I would imagine, and I can confidentally say that I will probably purchase EVGA in a year or two. (Next gen after pascal I mean)
 
I hope not too many people consider this otherwise demand will be more than supply, resulting in waiting and retailers overcharging. Seriously I think EVGA will test and retest before release so nobody can say "my vram is fried." Yes, I bet the next gen of EVGA made GPUs will be tough as nails, well cooled and last years!!

Omarlink
Today 1 month waiting the thermal pads.
 
Regards.
 
Request Shipped 11/09/2016 (Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery).

EVGA_JacobF
First post is updated with the original BIOS if any users wish to flash back to the original (older) BIOS update.

dwaintr
If you check its serial number at www.evga.com/thermalmod page, the result will tell you whether your card has the thermal mod update.

• VBIOS Update
• Optional Thermal Pad Kit

Vlada011

panzlock
So doing research paying off but not exactly providing results. EVGA with VRM problems. Gigabyte has no adequate ventilation on backplate. ASUS experiencing problems with fans on ROG Strix. Jesus Christ, WHAT THE HECK, already?????
 
I'm going to check what MSI is up to. This is ridiculous.

I decide... I will wait and buy EVGA GTX1080Ti or EVGA GTX1080 Founders Edition.
I can't risk to something burn RVE and Processor I would need 1000 euro in pocket.
If I decide to go on EVGA GTX1080Ti that would be probably Hybrid, If I decide to go on EVGA Founders than I will need Hybrid Cooler.
For now my only recommendation for GTX1080 is Founders + Hybrid, other solutions will give me much higher temps of motherboards and processor.
EVGA will remember GTX1080 series forever. 
That's sabotage, someone sold them bad parts... We can't blame company who build all previous series normal to make mistake in production just like that. Bad parts are more logic explanation for me. 
You see now why is production in smaller batches better...
Than they could fix in another and customers really should be patient while wait.
EVGA done great job, again build nicest dual cooler series, incredible Hybrid and Hydrocopper models.
But something is not right with parts. If more than 10 graphics blow up than we can say that some of parts are not perfect.
 
This 
http://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=08G-P4-6180-KR
 
and this 
http://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=400-HY-5188-B1
 
are solution if someone want cold GTX1080 with EVGA technical support and don't need to worry.
Somehow one part of me always wished to try some of Maxwell or Pascal reference cards, but Hybrid is cooler I want on my graphic card.
Because from some reason I can't remove heat from case with a lot of fans and open side panel become better solution than 5-6 fans.
If H100 remove heat from CPU and Hybrid from GPU and both work in exhaust configuration than case fans are not necessary at all.
Ambient temp will not be more than 38-40C. Only better and colder hardware is possible with custom liquid cooling.
But temp difference between expensive custom liquid loop vs AIO (both CPU+GPU) is smaller than difference between AIO (both CPU+GPU) vs dual/triple Air coolers graphic cards.
 

StijnDC

dwaintr
If you check its serial number at www.evga.com/thermalmod page, the result will tell you whether your card has the thermal mod update.

So when it says the following:
 
Based on your Serial Number (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx), we recommend the following:

• VBIOS Update
• Optional Thermal Pad Kit

It means the card is an old one without all the fixes ? If that is the case, then EVGA EU support lied to me and send me an old replacement card.
 
But on the other hand, the VBIOS I see on GPU-Z is 86.04.3B.00.84; while the first post in this thread says 86.04.3B.00.82 for Classified cards. So the BIOS is the new version. But thermal pads I'm not sure, and I'm not going to disassemble the card. So the thermalmod page to check with serial number isn't correct ? Quite a mess EVGA has made if you ask me.

I was seeing 68C full load (not to bad).  NOW...I see 62C at full load and 22C at idle (temps outside in the 40's),
 
Even downloaded Furmark and ran it.  Card won't go over 63C at any time with anything.

 
Interesting information, thank you.