Gigabyte RTX 3070 overheating caused by forgotten manufacturing film

A Gigabyte RTX 3070 Gaming OC rev 2.0 (LHR) experienced significant overheating issues due to a manufacturing error. A protective film from the manufacturer MEITEK was left on the voltage regulator module (VRM) thermal pads during assembly.

After approximately five years of use, the user reported symptoms including black screens and fans ramping up to 3,500 RPM. Investigations revealed GPU temperatures reaching 80°C and hotspot temperatures hitting 105°C. Upon opening the card, the user discovered the forgotten film, which had prevented effective heat transfer. Removing the film and reapplying thermal paste reduced GPU temperatures by 15°C and improved the hotspot temperature by 30°C.