In the ever-evolving landscape of PC enthusiasts seeking innovative cooling solutions, a Reddit user has embarked on an audacious journey to passively cool an Nvidia RTX 3080. The post, discovered by the vigilant community at Fanless Tech, reveals the user’s ambitious project to replace the stock cooling shroud of the power-hungry RTX 3080 with a colossal assembly crafted from a solid bar of copper. Measuring one foot wide, two inches tall, and three inches deep, the copper block alone weighs an astonishing 23.26 pounds, presenting a unique experiment in silent and fanless GPU cooling.
While the user’s concept is still in the early planning stages, the design incorporates at least eleven additional CPU cooler heatsinks, deviating from the conventional reliance on fans for thermal management. However, the community’s response in the post’s comments suggests skepticism regarding the feasibility of effectively dissipating the substantial heat generated by the RTX 3080, which consumes 350 watts of power. Comparisons are drawn to a cast iron pan on a stove, questioning the copper block’s ability to handle the thermal load.
Despite the user’s track record with previous passive cooling projects, doubts linger about the practicality of this endeavor. The community speculates on potential improvements, including a horizontal variant in the next iteration and the incorporation of additional direct heat pipes through drilled holes. As the community debates the viability of fanless cooling for high-performance GPUs, the project underscores the challenges and innovation involved in pushing the boundaries of conventional PC cooling methods.