u/AMBOSHER

So I was looking at a lot of Dell/Alienware forums and YouTube videos, including some people trying to mine crypto and run local AI on this card. There was a common theme of using thermal pads a bit too thick. So I decided to document what I have found with my Dell 3090. It is possible this is only for my revision of the 3090, which used thermal pads instead of putty.

This PC is a build for my college student-teacher for him to run local AI.

Taking it apart is pretty straightforward since there is no bracket, so I didn't really bother taking pictures of it.

Specs -

CPU: i9 12900KF

RAM: SK Hynix 2x32GB DDR5 4400 MT/s CL36 w/ heat spreaders

GPU: Dell OEM RTX 3090

MB: ASRock B760M PG Riptide

Cooler: Thermalright FC 140mm

Case: Antex Flux M F-LUX

Images -

1/2: backplate

3/4: cooler side

5: You can take off the frame and add thermal putty in between the frame and cooler. This will drastically decrease VRAM temps. I went from 95c down to 80c!

6: The PSU I bought for this build is delayed, so I have to use my test one.

7: Just temp testing.

Currently just testing out the parts on a test bench before the final assembly. It's going to be used by him for local AI. The CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage are from an older Alienware I got for free, so I am passing a lot of those savings to the student-teacher since he is also a friend. My major is computer engineering for those wondering.

I also added some pictures of the DELL 3090 at the end, since I found a lot of information on the thermal pads was just straight up wrong. In the last image, I added some thermal putty under the black fram so the memory would get even better cooling.

Build -

CPU: i9 12900KF

GPU: DELL OEM 3090

RAM: 2x32GB DDR5 5200MT/s

MB: ASRock B760M PG Riptide

Cooling: Thermalright FC 140mm

Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 2TB, Crucial P310 2TB

Case: Antex Flux M F-LUX