Cooling is one of the most important features of any AIB, even more so on a GPU that houses this amount of power. If history is anything to go by, the Windforce cooling solution used on this particular GPU should be fairly well equipped for the job.
Seemingly standard for this size of GPU, Gigabyte has utilized a triple-fan cooling solution for the Gaming OC 10G. It features 2 x 90mm and 1 x 80mm uniquely bladed fans, purpose-designed for a more accurate flow of air over the heatsink and PCB. Each blade has raised grooves for greater air direction and control. Furthermore, a nicely designed triangular shaping has been given to the blades to promote greater airflow as well.
Like most RTX 3080 GPUs, Gigabyte has made use of ‘stop-start’ technology, allowing the fans to completely stop when under no load or below 55 degrees in temperature. This not only increases the efficiency of this card, but it also decreases the noise levels produced over its lifetime.
Speaking of lifetime, graphene nano lubricant has been used inside the Gaming OC’s fan mechanisms. This theoretically extends the lifespan of sleeve bearings by 2.1 times, putting it right up there with double ball bearings yet much quieter.
As we’ve already mentioned, the backplate sees several cutouts that allow the air to pass through the card more freely, ultimately providing better heat dissipation and efficiency. A large copper plate & several copper heat pipes can be found weaving their way through the aluminum heatsink fins. The copper plate comes into direct contact with the GPU and VRAM, redirecting heat via the copper pipes in a very efficient manner.
The fans can be tweaked using the Gigabyte software package or MSI Afterburner, allowing you to set a fan curve that better suits your agenda.
I have to say, when we were benchmarking this particular card, I did notice how well the cooling performed in various scenarios. It stayed under 70 degrees for the entirety of the benchmarking process, something the 2080Ti could not replicate.
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