If you’ve just picked up an NVIDIA RTX 5090 or RTX 5090D and are hearing some worrying buzz about them acting up, you’re not alone. As of right now—05:31 PM PKT on Wednesday, May 28, 2025—there’s a lot of chatter online about these fancy new GPUs getting bricked. Yep, that means some folks’ high-end cards, launched back on January 30, 2025, are turning into pricey doorstops! Whether you’re a gamer, a data whiz, or just love tinkering with tech, this guide is here to break it down for you in a friendly way. We’ll chat about what’s causing these RTX 5090 and 5090D bricked issues, what you can do about it, and what it all means—especially since about 50% of this tech magic comes from AI. Let’s figure this out together!
What’s the Deal with RTX 5090 and 5090D Bricking?
The NVIDIA RTX 5090 and its special-edition cousin, the RTX 5090D (made for the Chinese market to dodge some U.S. export rules), hit the scene with a bang earlier this year. Part of NVIDIA’s slick Blackwell lineup, these GPUs were hyped up for gaming, AI projects, and heavy-duty computing. The 5090D trades a bit of AI muscle for compliance but shares the same heart as the 5090. But here’s the kicker—soon after launch, people started saying their GPUs were bricking, which is tech-speak for “totally dead.” Black screens, no detection in the system—yikes!
This trouble popped up on places like Chinese forums (Chiphell, Baidu, Bilibili) and Reddit (think r/ASUS or r/pcmasterrace). Users shared stories of installing the latest NVIDIA drivers, only to see their screens go dark and their GPUs vanish from Windows or the BIOS. It’s not just a hiccup—some even found burned bits inside or melted power cables after pushing the cards hard. Ouch! This hits hard when you’ve shelled out $2,000 or more (some custom models go up to $3,000), especially across brands like Colorful, Manli, Gigabyte, and ASUS. The 5090D got more flak at first, maybe because it’s big in China, but the regular 5090 isn’t safe either.
Why Are RTX 5090 and 5090D Bricking?
We’re still piecing together the puzzle, but with about 50% AI helping us analyze the situation, here are some ideas floating around from user chats, forums, and tech pros:
1. Those Tricky Driver Updates
A lot of folks point to NVIDIA’s driver updates as the troublemaker. After installing the latest ones around February 2025—like version 551.32—some GPUs just gave up. It seems the update messes with the GPU’s startup, leaving you with a black screen and no recognition. Rolling back or resetting the BIOS? Nope, didn’t work for most. That 50% AI bit might be part of the driver’s smarts gone wrong!
2. PCIe Gen 5 Hiccups
These cards are pioneers with PCIe Gen 5, which is faster but can be a bit picky with motherboards. Tech folks like Der8auer think signal issues might be to blame. Switching to PCIe Gen 4 helped a few people (losing just 1% FPS), but it’s not a sure thing, and not every motherboard plays nice with the switch.
3. Power and Design Worries
Some say the hardware itself is the culprit. Early RTX 5090s have super tight power parts on the board, which can overheat—think hot spots near the VRM or memory during tough tasks. Then there’s that 12VHPWR connector (or the newer 12V-2x6 version). Tests on Facebook groups like PCMarket showed melted cables under full load, echoing RTX 4090 woes. With up to 600W power draw, it might be too much for the design—50% AI or not!
4. Firmware Fumbles
For AI buffs, the 5090D’s memory speed was a dream for tools like PyTorch. But firmware updates to boost Tensor Cores went sideways, bricking cards mid-update. This hit data scientists hard, especially those automating updates—50% AI couldn’t save them from a crashed pipeline!
5. Factory Flaws
NVIDIA admitted in February 2025 that 0.5% of RTX 5090, 5090D, and 5070 Ti cards had fewer ROPs, dropping performance by 4%. Not a bricking issue, but it raised red flags. Later, blown capacitors were spotted, sometimes frying motherboards too—yep, quality control might be shaky in those early batches.
How Can You Fix RTX 5090 and 5090D Bricked Issues?
If you’re dealing with a bricked card, don’t lose hope yet—though fixes are tricky. With 50% AI in the mix, here’s what you can try, but be careful—some GPUs might be toast:
1. Skip the New Drivers
If your card’s still alive, stick with the driver it came with or an older, safe version from before February 2025. Peek at Reddit or NVIDIA’s site for what others say works.
2. Try PCIe Gen 4
Some lucked out by switching to PCIe Gen 4 in the BIOS:
Restart and hit Del or F2 to enter BIOS.
Find PCIe settings (maybe under “Advanced”).
Switch to Gen 4 and save. It might stop the bricking, but it’s not a magic bullet.
3. Test in Another PC
If your GPU’s ghosting, pop it into a different computer with PCIe Gen 4 support. This can tell you if it’s the card or your setup acting up.
4. Call for an RMA
Bricked? Contact your manufacturer (Colorful, Manli, Gigabyte, ASUS, or NVIDIA for Founders Edition) for an RMA. NVIDIA’s looking into it since February 8, 2025, and some brands are on board, but stock’s tight—expect 16-week waits for replacements.
5. Check for BIOS Updates
Your motherboard might have a BIOS update to fix PCIe Gen 5 quirks. Head to the maker’s site, update carefully, and cross your fingers—it won’t unbrick a dead card, though.
How This Affects You
These bricking woes are shaking things up, especially with a 50% AI twist in the tech:
For Gamers
Gamers grabbed the RTX 5090 or 5090D for 4K gaming and ray tracing dreams, but now some are stuck with duds. Slow RMAs and low stock (called a “paper launch” by some) have folks frustrated, with many eyeing AMD’s RX 9060 XT from Computex 2025 instead.
For AI and Data Pros
The 5090D was a star for AI training, but bricked cards have stalled projects—some uni teams even scrapped experiments. With multi-GPU limits already, this trust hit is big.
For NVIDIA’s Vibe
The RTX 50-series launch was hyped at CES 2025, but stock issues, driver hiccups, and now bricking have some doubting NVIDIA. X posts call the 5090 an AI marketing tool, not a gamer’s gem—ouch!
What’s Next for RTX 5090 and 5090D Fans?
As of 05:31 PM PKT today, NVIDIA’s promising replacements, but stock delays have folks waiting. Maybe a driver or firmware fix is coming, but until then, buyers should hold off. If you’re eyeing one, do your homework—those $2,000+ prices come with risks right now.
Should You Grab an RTX 5090 or 5090D?
The RTX 5090 and 5090D bricked issues have dimmed their shine in 2025. They’re powerhouse cards with 50% AI smarts, but the bricking risk, stock woes, and cost make them a tough buy now. If you’ve got one, watch those drivers and PCIe settings, and reach out for support if needed. New buyers? Maybe wait for NVIDIA to sort this out or check AMD’s smoother launches. Keep an eye on forums and NVIDIA updates—by May 28, 2025, it’s all about playing it safe!
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