Repair Professional Discovers 19 Cracked GeForce RTX 4090 Graphics Cards from Single Customer
In a surprising turn of events, a repair professional and YouTuber recently received a staggering 19 cracked GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards from a single customer. The cause of the damage remains unclear, but an alarming trend has been observed regarding PCB cracking on new, heavy GPUs.
Various factors could be responsible for this widespread issue. Possibilities include user error, manufacturing problems, design flaws, or rough handling during shipping. The complex nature of the PCB on the GeForce RTX 4090, composed of multiple layers, exacerbates the situation, as repairs are not only costly but also impractical.
Speculation arises regarding the customer’s intentions with the damaged GPUs. It is suspected that they may have purchased the graphics cards from an online marketplace like eBay, with the intention of repairing them quickly and subsequently reselling them. However, this assumption is only based on circumstantial evidence.
Interestingly, the broken graphics cards did not exhibit any other visible damage or burn marks, a common issue often associated with 12VHPWR connectors. This raises questions about the underlying cause of the PCB cracks and further complicates the investigation into the problem.
Surprisingly, there seems to be an acceptance within the market for selling graphics cards with damaged PCBs, as long as the buyer is fully aware of the issue and intends to utilize them for spare parts. While this may seem counterintuitive to some, it helps salvage some value from the broken GPUs.
Repairing cracked PCBs is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Considering the extensive effort required, it often proves uneconomical and impractical for most repair professionals and enthusiasts. Hence, many simply opt to sell the graphics cards for parts rather than attempting to fix them.
Notably, reports from other technicians in the industry have emerged over the past few months, highlighting instances of PCB cracking in various graphics cards. These incidents indicate a significant concern within the industry that needs to be addressed promptly.
Furthermore, specific PCB design issues have previously been reported, particularly concerning Gigabyte cards. This raises questions about the quality control measures undertaken by manufacturers and the potential need for improvements in the design and manufacturing processes to prevent future PCB cracks.
As the investigation into the cracked GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards continues, the repair professional’s experience sheds light on a troubling trend within the industry. It emphasizes the urgency for manufacturers to rectify any design or manufacturing flaws that may contribute to widespread PCB cracking in graphics cards. Only through effective measures can the issue be resolved and the quality of GPUs preserved.
