Although the temperature change is minimal, it shows that thermal paste can be used as an alternative to liquid metal in situations where reapplication is necessary. A difference of 1.8 °C is unlikely to affect real performance.
Interestingly, Nvidia has made adjustments to the design of the RTX 5090, setting a lower “throttling” point for the GPU at 83 °C compared to 90 °C in older models.
Nvidia has also protected the liquid metal with a seal around the GPU to prevent leaks and oxidation, which can help extend the lifespan of the liquid metal. However, like all thermal materials, both thermal paste and liquid metal degrade over time due to regular use.