While Nvidia’s RTX 4090 Founders Edition is no stranger to technical issues, the latest incident cannot be readily blamed on the company. Interestingly, a winged insect was found trapped inside the graphics card, leading to malfunction. This article explores this unusual situation, detailing the steps taken to identify and resolve the issue.

The Initial Problem

YouTube channel NorthWestRepair disclosed they had been contacted by a customer seeking a repair for their new RTX 4090 Founders Edition. The card was purchased at resale without a warranty. During initial tests, although the card’s fans reached maximum speed, no image displayed on the monitor. This led to further investigation to identify the problem.

Diagnostic Procedures

Typical protocols were followed in diagnosing the problem with the RTX 4090. The initial steps involved checking for apparent issues such as short circuits, cracks, and faults on the printed circuit board (PCB). Concurrently, the BIOS chip was examined for activity. Despite this thorough examination, no overt problems were identified, warranting a closer look at the graphics processing unit (GPU) itself.

The Unexpected Discovery

Upon desoldering the AD 102 chip from the GPU, an unexpected discovery was made. The carcass of a winged insect was found trapped between the GPU and the PCB pads. It is presumed that this unfortunate circumstance occurred while the RTX 4090 FE was on the assembly line. The insect’s body appeared to have affected some of the ball grid array (BGA) contacts on the PCB, thereby disrupting the card’s functionality.

The Repair Process

After identifying the issue, NorthWestRepair proceeded with the repair work. The GPU was cleaned, and the BGA contacts were re-balled. After refitting the GPU, tests confirmed that the card was fully functional. Additional 3Dmark benchmarks were also run to ensure that the card had returned to its optimal performance levels.

Not an Isolated Case

Surprisingly, this incident isn’t unique. NorthWestRepair reported a similar issue three months ago while repairing a Zotac GeForce RTX 3080 Ti AMP Extreme Holo. In that instance, an insect was also found inside the card, affecting its performance.

Other Known Issues

It’s crucial to note that while this issue was caused by an external factor, Nvidia RTX 4090 cards have faced other challenges. Just last week, news emerged that one such card had self-destructed for no apparent reason after only one year of proper installation and use.

Final Thoughts

This article delves into an unusual problem affecting Nvidia’s RTX 4090 Founders Edition, one that can’t be attributed to manufacturing or software issues. While the winged insect’s intrusion is peculiar, it highlights the importance of thorough quality control checks in the manufacturing process. Nvidia may not be directly responsible in this case, but the episode certainly adds another layer to the ongoing conversation about quality assurance in high-end graphics cards.

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