Asus Dials Up the Heat: How a $4K GPU's Thermal Paste Got a Recall Makeover

At $4,000, Asus' ROG Matrix RTX 5090 was already a gamble — until its liquid metal thermal paste got a recall-worthy overhaul.

Asus revised the liquid metal application on its $4,000 ROG Matrix RTX 5090 cards after reports of uneven manual application in initial samples.

The revised design adds a thermal paste perimeter barrier and silicon oil-infused liquid metal droplets to prevent leaks. The retail version shows 'much more professional' liquid metal spread compared to the sample's 'uneven ring' application.

The fix includes cutouts for thermal expansion and a silicon-printing technique for consistent TIM application.

Despite the redesign, the card still pulls ~800W under load and maintains similar temperatures to the sample version.

These ROG Matrix cards are Asus' flagship offering for enthusiasts... but not in this case.