Addressing Fan Malfunctions on the Gainward GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU

If you’re a proud owner of the Gainward GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Phoenix graphics card, you may encounter issues that can disrupt your gaming or productivity experience. One particular problem that some users have reported is related to the functionality of the outer fans.

The Issue at Hand

In this instance, the outer two fans of the GPU are not engaging properly, even as the central fan speeds up to maximum RPM. This malfunction results in rising temperatures that lead to thermal throttling, which can adversely affect your system’s performance. According to readings from monitoring Software like GPU-Z, there is a clear indication that the outer fans should be operational; however, the data shows them running at 0 RPM.

Troubleshooting Steps Taken

If you’re faced with a similar scenario, there are several troubleshooting measures I have implemented to diagnose the issue:

Driver Reinstallation: I reverted various versions of NVIDIA drivers, starting from version 566.36, employing Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) for a clean setup each time.
Operating System Reset: A fresh installation of Windows 11 was performed to rule out Software conflicts or corruption issues.
Manual Fan Control Attempts: I tried to activate the fans using multiple Software programs, including MSI Afterburner, Fan Control, and Gainward’s own Expert Tool II.
Hardware Inspection: A thorough physical examination of the GPU fan headers was conducted, confirming that all connections were secure and undamaged.

Seeking Insights and Recommendations

Despite these efforts, the problem persists, leaving me in search of potential remedies or insights from those who may have faced similar challenges. If you have encountered this issue or possess knowledge regarding possible solutions, your input would be greatly appreciated.