EKWB vektor nickel backplate screw CAME OUT on its own. Nowhere to be found.

[Zberg]

As in the title, I have a EKWB vektor block and backplate on my 3090.  It has always run very hot, even when brand new, new paste, etc.  Have a thick 360 rad and a regular 280.  My old 2080ti ran in the 50's.  This card has always run in the high 50's to 60's.

 

Anyways, all of a sudden I was noticing worse performance, checked temps and clocks and it was downclocking to the 1700's on GPU clock.  Temps in the high 70s to almost 80.  Took a peak and one of the 4 screws that is near the GPU chip is just gone (one of the backplate ones that sandwiches the whole thing together).  Literally gone.  Im shaking the case because its clearly in there somewhere, but cant hear it, might be wedged against something. 

 

My question is, wtf?  It just got loose enough on its own to pop out?!  It looks like it was never installed (it def was).  Obviously the temps make sense now as the GPU wasnt appropriate approximating the block.  

 

But has anyone seen this?!  Can it just get warm enough or have enough vibration to completely come out?  

 

FYI I did put a replacement M2.5 screw in there and temps are back to the 60's.  But this feels bizarre.

[AnonymousGuy]

Guess that's why I've seen blue loctite on those screws.  

 

But no I've never had a screw come loose on its own.