I also got an answer about the original question of XC3 thermal pad specs for the air cooler: https://forums.evga.com/C...out-pads-m3290526.aspx

Krisnatharok
Yes mine came with thermal paste on the areas between the extra copper plate and the actual cooler.

 
Was yours an upgrade kit, or the OEM assembled Hybrid? I'm not entirely sure if I checked for pre-applied thermal paste on mine, but I do know it came with a small packet of paste and another small foam bit that I didn't know how I was supposed to use.

benwards925

Krisnatharok
Yes mine came with thermal paste on the areas between the extra copper plate and the actual cooler.

Was yours an upgrade kit, or the OEM assembled Hybrid? I'm not entirely sure if I checked for pre-applied thermal paste on mine, but I do know it came with a small packet of paste and another small foam bit that I didn't know how I was supposed to use.

I got the hybrid upgrade kit, and it indeed it all came pre-applied on the middle plate and the core cooler as well.  The tube is if you have to remove or remount it. I don't know what EVGA uses, so I'd recommend using something like Arctic Silver or Grizzly (or whatever your favorite TIM is).

Krisnatharok

benwards925

Krisnatharok
Yes mine came with thermal paste on the areas between the extra copper plate and the actual cooler.

Was yours an upgrade kit, or the OEM assembled Hybrid? I'm not entirely sure if I checked for pre-applied thermal paste on mine, but I do know it came with a small packet of paste and another small foam bit that I didn't know how I was supposed to use.

I got the hybrid upgrade kit, and it indeed it all came pre-applied on the middle plate and the core cooler as well.  The tube is if you have to remove or remount it. I don't know what EVGA uses, so I'd recommend using something like Arctic Silver or Grizzly (or whatever your favorite TIM is).

Well, I don't remember looking at the bottom of the plate, so maybe it's there, I'm not going to remove it just to check. I'm hoping my 3070 will get stepped up to a 3090 soon and I can sell this 3080 to my buddy.
It that case, I'll have to re-paste it anyway and will verify there is thermal compound. 

EVGATech_LeeM
Sorry for the delay; I wanted to confirm something with the HYBRID cards/kits.
 
3090/3080 FTW3 Pads:

Spoiler

1pcs: 7.7mm x 6.5mm x 2.75mm
2pcs: 53mm x 14mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 37.5mm x 14mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 15mm x 12mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 110mm x 5mm x 2.5mm

close

 
3090/3080 FTW3 BP Pads:

Spoiler

2pcs: 51mm x 12mm x 2mm
1pcs: 38mm x 12mm x 2mm
1pcs: 14mm x 10mm x 2mm

close

 
3090/3080 FTW3 HYBRID/HYBRID Kit Pads:

Spoiler

Thermal pads for VRAM heatsink:
2pcs: 49mm x 13mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 37.5mm x 12mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 13mm x 13mm x 2.25mm
 
Thermal pads for standalone heatsink:
1pcs: 80mm x 4.5mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 75mm x 11mm x 0.75mm - Note: This thermal pad is not initially on the HYBRID card.  Thermal putty is used in its place.  If you remove/clean the thermal putty, then replace it with a thermal pad of these dimensions.
 
Thermal pads for heatsink connected to the fan:
1pcs: 106mm x 5mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 105mm x 11mm x 0.75mm - Note: This thermal pad is not initially on the HYBRID card.  Thermal putty is used in its place.  If you remove/clean the thermal putty, then replace it with a thermal pad of these dimensions.

close

Does this info also apply to the 3080TI FTW3 Hybrids?

EVGATech_LeeM
Sorry for the delay; I wanted to confirm something with the HYBRID cards/kits.
 
3090/3080 FTW3 Pads:

Spoiler

1pcs: 7.7mm x 6.5mm x 2.75mm
2pcs: 53mm x 14mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 37.5mm x 14mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 15mm x 12mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 110mm x 5mm x 2.5mm

close

 
3090/3080 FTW3 BP Pads:

Spoiler

2pcs: 51mm x 12mm x 2mm
1pcs: 38mm x 12mm x 2mm
1pcs: 14mm x 10mm x 2mm

close

 
3090/3080 FTW3 HYBRID/HYBRID Kit Pads:

Spoiler

Thermal pads for VRAM heatsink:
2pcs: 49mm x 13mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 37.5mm x 12mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 13mm x 13mm x 2.25mm
 
Thermal pads for standalone heatsink:
1pcs: 80mm x 4.5mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 75mm x 11mm x 0.75mm - Note: This thermal pad is not initially on the HYBRID card.  Thermal putty is used in its place.  If you remove/clean the thermal putty, then replace it with a thermal pad of these dimensions.
 
Thermal pads for heatsink connected to the fan:
1pcs: 106mm x 5mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 105mm x 11mm x 0.75mm - Note: This thermal pad is not initially on the HYBRID card.  Thermal putty is used in its place.  If you remove/clean the thermal putty, then replace it with a thermal pad of these dimensions.

close

Can you confirm where the 7.7mm x 6.5mm x 2.75mm pad is that you speak of? I've been able to match most of these up with the a photo I found of the broken down PCB, but I don't see this particular pad anywhere. Can you confirm?
 

How are we supposed to properly replace the thermal pads when it is not even possible to buy those heights?

At retail you can only buy .5mm steps. There are no .25mm steps for commercially purchasable pads.
Also you can not buy thermal putty, it is not sold as far as I am aware.

Does it make sense to tell people to go spend almost $100 on pads when EVGA can sell replacement kits on their own for a profit to EVGA? That would be exactly what the customer needs and not result in overspending and waste. Especially when pads softness and compression is an issue.

How long until someone damages their GPU due to too much compression force on ICs from incorrectly sized pads that don't compress enough?

I tried asking for a replacement set of pads and putty and the tech that replied put more effort into selling me EVGA Thermal Paste than actually helping me.

EVGATech_LeeM
Sorry for the delay; I wanted to confirm something with the HYBRID cards/kits.
 
3090/3080 FTW3 Pads:
 
1pcs: 7.7mm x 6.5mm x 2.75mm
2pcs: 53mm x 14mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 37.5mm x 14mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 15mm x 12mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 110mm x 5mm x 2.5mm
 
 
3090/3080 FTW3 BP Pads:
 
2pcs: 51mm x 12mm x 2mm
1pcs: 38mm x 12mm x 2mm
1pcs: 14mm x 10mm x 2mm
 
 
3090/3080 FTW3 HYBRID/HYBRID Kit Pads:
 
Thermal pads for VRAM heatsink:
2pcs: 49mm x 13mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 37.5mm x 12mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 13mm x 13mm x 2.25mm
 
Thermal pads for standalone heatsink:
1pcs: 80mm x 4.5mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 75mm x 11mm x 0.75mm - Note: This thermal pad is not initially on the HYBRID card.  Thermal putty is used in its place.  If you remove/clean the thermal putty, then replace it with a thermal pad of these dimensions.
 
Thermal pads for heatsink connected to the fan:
1pcs: 106mm x 5mm x 2.25mm
1pcs: 105mm x 11mm x 0.75mm - Note: This thermal pad is not initially on the HYBRID card.  Thermal putty is used in its place.  If you remove/clean the thermal putty, then replace it with a thermal pad of these dimensions.
 

ty_ger07
1) After reading other people's experiences with replacing thermal pads/putty on these cards, I wouldn't do it. Far too many people have seen no thermal improvement and many have actually seen worse thermal performance due to contact pressure issues. Some have spent weeks testing, tweaking, and buying different products just trying to get there temperatures back to what they were stock.
2) The way pads and thermal paste are thermally characterized is not standardized. The testing temperature is not standardized, and this has a huge impact of the W/mk result. Some are tested at 20c. Some are tested at 60c. The difference in W/mk result is massive when tested at different temperatures. This makes the W/mk comparison useless when making buying choices. Since you can't compare pads based on W/mk, it means you would have to buy a bunch of different ones and compare them by physically testing them. A lot of time and expense for a tiny difference in thermal performance (in the grand scheme of things). Not worth it.

I can confirm. I'm pretty annoyed. I paid $144 for a 3090 FTW3 Hybrid kit and my mem temps went from 92C in games to 100C in games unless I make the memory -200.

Good job, EVGA. I love you guys, but y'all always seem to find a way to screw up every single generation of GPU releases.

Now I'm over here looking for 2.25mm thermal pads so I can put the stock cooler on and sell it for a Strix. Thanks. Because it's either that, or I buy an EK block and go full custom loop just to get 72-78C mem temps like my Strix had. What a joke.

Something sounds off there. I went almost the exact opposite with the hybrid cooler, ~100C on air, ~80C on the hybrid. With it being a 3090 though, I wonder if it made the VRAM on the front cooler, but then the back is running hotter?

Looking at the design though, I do feel like the VRM plate could be thicker copper. It's pretty thin, like 0.030" thick and then doesn't have a ton of contact with the AIO. Going to a thicker copper plate and then using thinner thermal pads could possibly improve the situation. Not completely sure there is room for a thicker plate though.

Also, not sure it matters, but the shroud doesn't really guide the air into the heat sinks, and the AIO blocks a lot of the flow path to the second heatsink. I've been thinking about 3D print a new shroud that makes it like a triple slot card with a standard 90mm fan.

Mine's a 3090 as well.. just gonna test out 2.5mm pads. Otherwise I'm selling this garbage for a Strix. And it's terrible cause EVGA has the best customer service.