Some GPU fans on the Gigabyte RTX3080 turn on all at once and reach full speed.
Some GPU fans on the Gigabyte RTX3080 turn on all at once and reach full speed.
I've shared this before, but the problem keeps reappearing and disappearing. Three out of my three fans on the Gigabyte RTX 3080 randomly spin very loudly—probably when they share the same connector? Sometimes it lasts just a second or two, other times minutes, and in the past it was permanent until I powered down the PC. I've tried fresh driver updates, clearing dust, inspecting connectors, etc. The only steps I haven't managed are fully disconnecting and re-seating my GPU (due to space limits and the fact that my Noctua cooler prevents removal) plus a VBIOs flash since Gigabyte doesn’t list BIOS there. It’s just so unpredictable. I played through RDR2 from start to finish over 80 hours without it happening, but a lower-intensity game once did cause fans to rev briefly. Most recently, while playing the intro of Atomic Heart, it first sped up slightly then stopped, then after ten minutes ran at full speed and returned to normal when I turned off the game. I’ve been trying a power cycle to check for static buildup or other issues, and sometimes it resolves the problem on the next boot. I’ve attached a screenshot of my GPU temperatures and fan speeds from HWiNFO, though one reading seems off due to whatever’s going on. It’s really causing me stress, so any insights would be greatly appreciated. If anyone knows what’s going on, please let me know.
Turing (2000-series) NVidia began using two distinct fan controllers per GPU. In typical tri-axial setups, the left fan is managed by the GPU Core Temperature monitor while the right two fans are controlled by a mix of VRM/Core and memory temperature sensors. AfterBurner, however, treats both fan controllers as a single unit. FAN2 reached a peak speed of 24,817 rpm—far beyond the usual 2,500–3,000 rpm range for GPU fans. This suggests either a faulty hardware information or a BIOS glitch producing false data. Another chance is that the tachometer wire to the fans is sometimes disconnected, causing the controller to overreact and set PWM at full power. Inspecting the splitter and connectors for loose or damaged parts could help. Testing on a test bench with gentle wiggling while the card runs under load might reveal the issue. Consider locking the fans to a fixed speed via AfterBurner or building a custom fan curve. If you must remove the card, a chopstick works well to gently release the locking tab when working near a tower cooler, reducing the risk of damaging components.
I reached out to the retailer who sold the card to confirm my warranty status and clarified whether to use their RMA process or Gigabyte's support. We'll check that first. If not, I plan to replace the paste and pads as my initial step. Appreciate your response.
It looks unusual. I adjusted the game a bit to check, but my RPM jumped from zero to around 5000 to 7000 before something strange happened—my fan felt like a helicopter blade and I didn’t notice. After spinning it at full RPM for a while, the two GPU fans stopped spinning completely.
Remarkable situation. I wasn’t expecting the issue to escalate so quickly, especially with that high fan setting. It might point to a hardware problem like a damaged or loose connection in the fan cable or an unstable vBIOS. You’re right about the lack of GPU BIOS options on their support page—flashing a new one isn’t recommended unless you’re comfortable. It seems safer if your graphics card supports dual BIOS versions. However, compatible BIOS files are available on TechPowerUp’s VGA collection, but be cautious; incorrect BIOS updates can brick the card. Recent reports suggest fan controller issues with GB RTX 3080s, which aligns with what you’ve found. Also worth noting is that poor thermal contact between the VRMs and overheating can trigger the fan to run at maximum speed.
I haven't been able to find those threads with other people having this issue before I guess I wasn't sure how to describe the issue well enough to see results hahaha. I contacted the retailer I got the card through to ask about an RMA as I believe I should still be in warranty. I would have contacted gigabyte but I contacted them before and they told me to get an RMA set up with the retailer so I just decided to skip waiting for them to reply this time. Hopefully I can update later today if they get back to me and get this sent away and replaced before I try the VBIOs. Last time I looked I couldn't find the card I have (it's the Eagle I'm pretty sure, at the time i knew if it was rev.1 or not rev.2 but I can't remember now) but now I see them listed on the Collection so if it comes to it that will be very helpful. Thank you for the help
Good luck with the return process. There are four different versions of the Eagle 10GB model and one revision for the 12GB version: Eagle OC 10GB ver 1.0, Eagle OC 10GB ver 2.0, Eagle 10GB ver 1.0, Eagle 10GB ver 2.0, and Eagle 12GB.