NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090: Some GB202 Chips Are Defective, Performance Drop Possible

After availability issues, the GeForce RTX 5090 may have defects in its GB202 chip, which could lead to a performance drop. NVIDIA may need to replace some faulty units.

The graphics card market is facing ongoing problems. After issues with limited stock and fluctuating availability, new problems have now emerged with the GB202 chip in the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090. Recent reports indicate that some units have a reduced number of ROP, which is important for rendering graphics. Initially, this was thought to be a software bug, seen in monitoring tools like GPU-Z, but further tests using HWINFO confirmed the issue is deeper than expected.

Famous leaker @MEGAsizeGPU pointed out that the issue is related to the silicon of the GPU, Blackwell GB202 itself, not just a software reading mistake. This means some RTX 5090 units may perform worse than others.

How Many RTX 5090 Cards Are Affected?

It is currently unclear how many units are affected by this issue. The problem seems to be present in several custom models, including those from ZOTAC, and may even include the Founders Edition. NVIDIA hasn’t provided an exact number of affected units, but the issue could impact more variants of the card.

A concerning point is that, while the issue has been detected with the RTX 5090, it’s possible that other Blackwell series cards, like the RTX 5080, may also be affected. The launch of the 5080 had already seen rumors of production delays.

This comes at a difficult time for NVIDIA, as they are already dealing with delays in producing mid-range GPUs, such as the RTX 5070 and 5060, due to performance issues in internal testing. If NVIDIA needs to replace defective RTX 5090 units, it could make the situation worse, slowing down the availability of their top-tier GPU and adding more tension to the market. If the issue with the GB202 chip affects a large number of units, NVIDIA might need to rethink their production plans to avoid impacting future launches.

What Should Users Do If They Suspect a Defect?

Anyone who has bought an RTX 5090 should check the specifications of their card using software like GPU-Z or HWINFO. If the ROP count is below 176, it could indicate a defect.

In that case, the most likely solution would be a RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization), where NVIDIA replaces the card. However, NVIDIA has not yet officially announced a recall plan, but it’s expected that a solution will be found quickly to avoid further damage to their reputation.