The Thermal Mess That Sparked a Debate
When a PC builder purchased a used EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3, they were greeted by what looked like a disaster zone of thermal material under the heatsink. Their Reddit post “Should the paste be redone?” featuring photos of oozing thermal putty sparked a crucial discussion about GPU maintenance that every PC enthusiast should understand.
Paste vs. Putty: Why It Matters
The confusion stemmed from a common misconception:
- Thermal Paste (What OP Thought They Saw)
- Used between GPU die and heatsink
- Typically gray/silver and evenly spread
- Must be cleanly applied – excess can cause issues
- Thermal Putty or Thermal Paste (What Was Actually There)
- Used for VRAM and VRM cooling
- Often blue/pink and intentionally globby
- Non-conductive and safe even when messy
As Redditor Tyz_TwoCentz_HWE_Ret clarified: “This isn’t pretty, but it’s not dangerous. Putty isn’t meant to win beauty contests.”
Should the paste be redone ?
byu/crapaud_dindon inpcmasterrace
When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Repaste
Experts in the thread agreed on these guidelines:
Redo It If:
- You see actual thermal paste (not putty) spilling onto circuits
- GPU temperatures exceed 85°C under load
- The card was used for mining without maintenance
- You’re experiencing thermal throttling
Leave It If:
- Only putty looks messy but temps are normal
- The card performs well in benchmarks
- You lack experience dismantling GPUs
- The previous owner recently repasted
Also, Read
- Steam Deck Disaster – How One Gamer’s Mistake Left the Internet Stunned
- When Your GPU Catches Fire – A PC Builder’s Worst Nightmare
- How an Amazon Shipping Error Landed This Gamer $1,000+ in Free PC Parts
Pro Tips for Secondhand GPU Buyers
Ask About Maintenance History
- When was it last repasted?
- Was it used for mining?
Test Before Dismantling
- Run FurMark to check thermals
- Monitor hotspot temperatures
Contact Manufacturers
- EVGA often provides free replacement pads
- Many brands offer teardown guides
Know Your Limits
- GPU disassembly risks damaging fragile components
- Consider professional repasting services
The OP later confirmed their card ran cool despite the ugly putty, proving looks aren’t everything in PC building.