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.