I bought an MSI GeForce RTX 4090 GAMING X TRIO in 2023 and have mainly used it for gaming. Recently, I started running local language models, and I noticed that its temperatures are higher than I remember. Under load, the GPU core used to stay around 74°C, but it now reaches about 83°C. The hotspot reaches 102–105°C, while VRAM is around 66°C in FurMark and roughly 70°C during language-model workloads.
These temperatures may still be within safe limits, but I would prefer to reduce them if possible. I am considering replacing the thermal paste, assuming the thermal pads are still fine, but I am concerned about tearing or damaging the pads during disassembly. The card reportedly uses 3.5 mm thermal pads, which are difficult to find, and I would rather not use thermal putty because I am worried about applying too much. Is repasting worthwhile, and how risky is it to disturb the existing pads?
4 Answers
Before disassembly, try increasing the GPU fan speed or improving case airflow. An undervolt is also a good option for a 4090: it can substantially reduce power consumption and temperature with little performance loss. Save the original settings so you can easily revert them.
If the card is maintaining its expected boost clocks and not throttling, the temperatures are probably not causing a practical problem. Repasting can help if the paste has genuinely deteriorated, but opening the cooler carries some risk and may disturb the thermal pads. It may not be worth doing solely to gain a few degrees.
Make sure the original and current readings were taken during the same season and with similar room temperatures. Even a change in ambient temperature, workload, or test software can account for much of a 10°C difference.
There are several variables that could explain the difference, especially ambient temperature, case airflow, fan curves, driver settings, and differences between the old and new workloads or benchmarks. A core temperature around 83°C and a hotspot around 105°C are not automatically a failure, so I would first verify that the comparison is being made under identical conditions before opening the card.
The card was originally tested during summer as well, and my room is currently about 20°C because I use air conditioning, so ambient temperature probably is not the main difference.