In a fascinating turn of events, an overclocker managed to push the RTX 5090 to incredible performance heights without resorting to liquid cooling. This feat was accomplished through the clever use of shunt modding, which bumped the GPU’s power delivery to a staggering 1200W.
Using 1MOhm shunt resistors, the overclocker was able to significantly enhance the power capabilities of their GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5090 Aorus Master ICE. Traditionally, such modifications might demand high-end liquid cooling systems, but this user relied on the stock cooler, proving that many aftermarket coolers are more capable than often assumed.
By replacing the standard 2MOhm resistors, the default power consumption of about 600W was doubled. The thermal management was further optimized with a careful application of thermal compounds such as PTM 7950 and Upsiren UX Ultra, ensuring efficient heat dissipation.
This setup achieved a remarkable 3.2 GHz clock speed at around 79 degrees Celsius, landing top spots in several 3DMark benchmarks. Notably, it secured 9th place in the Speedway benchmark, 11th in Steel Nomad, and 15th in Port Royal. Impressively, these results were achieved with air cooling, highlighting the potential of quality AIB cooling solutions.
While these results are captivating, it’s important to note that such modifications can void warranties and should be approached with caution. Nevertheless, for those willing to take the plunge, shunt modding presents a powerful avenue for unlocking GPU performance.
