15/06/2026 7:55 pm
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I bought this used RTX 3080 Ti for like 700 bucks off eBay and I feel like I got scammed or something because the memory temps are hitting 108 degrees when I try to play Cyberpunk and it smells like hot plastic. I am honestly so stressed out right now because this was my whole savings for the year and I feel like a total idiot for not knowing how this stuff works.
People on Reddit said I need to change the thermal pads but I have literally no idea what those even are. Are they like double sided tape or squishy stickers? I looked on Amazon and there are so many different brands and colors and then there is this stuff about thickness like 1.5mm or 2.0mm and I dont want to buy the wrong thing and accidentally crush the chip or something. I live in Chicago and the shops near me want a fortune to fix it so I have to do it myself by next weekend for a work project.
Sorry if this is a dumb question but I am totally lost and scared to even take the screws out of the back. I just want whatever is the highest quality stuff so it stops overheating. Which thermal pads are actually the best for cooling these high-end cards and how do I know which size to get?
10
15/06/2026 8:10 pm
^ This. Also, consider:
- Thermalright Extreme Odyssey II 12.8 W/mK I used these but they're super stiff. Be careful, if thickness is off, your core wont even touch the heatsink.
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15/06/2026 9:00 pm
> Re: ^ This. Also, consider:Thermalright Extreme Odyssey II 12.8...
- Honestly, I had issues with those Odyssey pads being way too stiff. If they dont compress, your GPU core will lose contact and overheat even worse. Since you're stressed about costs, just get Kritical Pads Custom Set for RTX 3080 Ti. They're pre-cut for your specific card brand. It basically solves the thickness debate from the other replies so you dont waste money on extra packs you wont use tho.
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15/06/2026 7:55 pm
I had the exact same panic with my 3080 last summer. Honestly, swapping mine for Gelid Solutions GP-Extreme 12W/mK was the best move. I'm super satisfied with the results and they're squishy enough that you wont crush anything.
- Get 2.0mm for the back
- 1.5mm for the front
- Measure the old ones first Temps dropped 20 degrees and it works well now, no complaints!
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19/06/2026 1:55 am
I have been struggling with these identical thermal issues on my 3080 Ti for over a month now and the lack of clarity is genuinely disappointing for such a high-end product. It feels like a massive oversight that we even have to deal with this level of heat on the VRAM.
- vram junction temps reaching 108 degrees during light gaming
- smelling that distinct burnt plastic aroma every time the fans ramp up
- total lack of official documentation on pad dimensions Basically, I am in the same boat and it has been nothing but a headache trying to find a reliable fix that doesnt risk cracking the board... still looking for a real solution.