We Found the Glue: Tear-Down of NVIDIA RTX 3090 Founders Edition

We decided to take apart the NVIDIA RTX 3090 Founders Edition card for thermocouple placement, and in the process, we discovered where NVIDIA hid the glue for this generation.

In this video, we're taking apart the NVIDIA RTX 3090 Founders Edition video card, which is mostly an upscaled and larger RTX 3080 FE. That said, we decided to tear it down further this time, down to the fans and the glue. The design could use some tweaks for user serviceability, but it is overall moving in the right direction. We'd like to see NVIDIA change to pin-to-pad fans for easier fan replacement in the event of RMAs or fan death on the RTX 3090 FE (and 3080 FE) coolers, so hopefully that's a change we see in the next generation of stock coolers. Partners are still free to do their own designs, and those are starting to pop-up everywhere now, too, some with easier access to the card and fans. Our NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 FE review is also already live on the channel, linked above, for those who want performance metrics.


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Host: Steve Burke
Video: Andrew Coleman, Keegan Gallick

[DollarCodger]

GN: measures multiple fins to tenths of a mm with caliper.
Also GN: shoves 2 rulers into heatsink shroud and uses the caliper as a prybar.

[storarperur]

Rofl i can just see the exhaustion in steve's eyes, well done mate

[mintsquirrel]

When Linus originally reviewed the 3080 he heard a rattling coming from the card. I wonder if that could be similar to the issue that Jay had.

[Zosu]

Time to add screw removal tape to the GN toolkit lol

[ryan]

They had the 3090 review on in Microcenter earlier! It was my first ever trip there and seeing your video there was awesome!!!

[supervillain]

Here's my conspiracy theory. Nvidia purposely put a size screw in there that you don't have in your toolkit, just to mess with you.

[GruntyGame]

2:13 instructions unclear, glue is now on stick.

[monty]

That isn't dry paste, it's a phase-change TIM tape after it's melted/set into place. Most machine-assembled sinks that need a really high W/mK use it because it's a convenient form for automation and as efficient as paste. I'm always surprised at the number of really experienced builders who aren't aware it exists.

[squirrelgray]

Now I know exactly how to take apart the card I won't be able to afford :D

[hospsa]

I bought one of those signed mouse pads during your stream, cant wait to get it, and congratulations on reaching 1 mil. also, thanks for those case reviews that you make they are very helpful.

[JML]

The founders edition is a freaking work of art. That's the first time I've ever said this.

[wewillrockyou]

I'd guess the reason they glued the cable is so that it doesn't get damaged easily when putting the shroud on...

[jfniv]

GN store really needs an "Even the LN2 tank disagrees..." shirt. Not like they don't sell out of most things anyways but that shirt would fly.

[NickCharles]

I had to look away when you started pulling on the glued ribbon cable. I can't deal with that sort of secondhand stress on a $1500 card...

[gamingblowsofficial]

The only interest I have in this card whatsoever is seeing it taken apart.

[spdcrzy]

"Nothing on one, binding on two, got a click on three..."

[JayJayYUP]

The twist and turns "oh so the glue was just the sticky pad residue, thanks goodness" a few moments later "glued fan ribbon cable?!.. NVIDIAAAA!?!@"

[TotesCray]

"Got a little click on 3, and a bit of movement on the heatsink, but it seems to be just a false set."

[MarcoGPUtuber]

I'm waiting for Intel to complain that this is also 'glued together'.

[LBWBmobster]

5:10 I thought those were called zip ties according to the verge.