No updates since the thermal pad was installed.
No updates since the thermal pad was installed.
I apologize for the extended explanation. Here’s a revised version:
This post may take some time, but it’s been quite a challenge. Today I attempted to adjust the VRAM temperatures on my MSI 3080 GAMING Z TRIO (112c running God of War 4K max at 72f ambient). I swapped out the original pads for K5 Pro and then Kritical Pads. My first test used K5 Pro because I’d heard great things about it, though I wasn’t sure if that would be enough. Later, I tried Kritical Pads in hopes of improved cooling. Before installing them, I cleaned the previous K5 Pro using 70% alcohol and a soft brush to remove dust. After cleaning, I put the Kritical Pads in and tried to boot my PC, but there was no display. I managed to start Windows via the iGPU in my 9700k, but the system wouldn’t recognize the 3080 regardless of whether it was connected through HDMI or the IGPU. I turned off the IGPU in BIOS and reset the CMOS battery without success. I noticed some K5 Pro chips were present in the PCI slot, so I cleaned them again and tried booting once more, but still no luck. Now the lights on the cards are working, fans are spinning, yet I’m worried the card might be damaged. Unfortunately, I don’t have a built-in speaker in my motherboard, which I thought was unnecessary, but I’m sure that’s the main problem. No other changes were made to the system, so I’m seeking advice on what I might have done wrong.
I didn’t notice any visible damage, and I tried to handle it gently. The kit from Kritical was meant for this card, but after taking it apart, it seems the contact isn’t optimal—some pads have little indentation. Could that really prevent the card from working fully? Another idea is giving it a quick alcohol rinse to check for shorts. I’m not sure what’s going on, but it feels unusual. Spending more on pads is frustrating, though maybe it’s worth it.
The pattern on the pad appears looser compared to the earlier ones. I rechecked the board for any leftover residue from the k5, but it’s still clean and there’s nothing obvious. The only clue is that something might have been shorted. I’m not sure what to do next.
I reached out to MSI and they indicated they can process an RMA—thanks for your assistance!