Gigabyte RTX 30/40 GPUs suffer from PCB cracking
In recent years, with the ascension of graphics card performance, demands on manufacturers for power supply and cooling solutions have soared concurrently. Consequently, it is not unusual to uncover product defects, particularly when certain items reveal issues over time, as usage frequency increases or duration lengthens.
Gigabyte PCB cracking, Source: Louis Rossmann
According to a report by VideoCardz, users have pinpointed instances of PCB cracking in Gigabyte’s GeForce RTX 30/40 series graphics cards, primarily in the PCIe interface area. This leads to conjecture about potential design flaws. Such occurrences can interfere with PCIe data transmission, rendering the graphics card unusable.
It is important to note that this kind of physical damage is not covered under warranty. Should customers encounter these issues and apply for after-sales service from Gigabyte, their requests will be denied, and Gigabyte will affix stickers with red arrows onto their products. Upon denial of warranty service, some users opt to place these graphics cards on the second-hand market, hoping to recuperate some costs by selling them. However, uninformed buyers might unwittingly fall into a trap.
Gigabyte PCB cracking (post RMA), Source: Louis Rossmann/eBay
The silver lining is that such issues are indeed rectifiable as they do not cause permanent damage to the GPU, video memory, or power supply components. Still, some users may find the repair process somewhat cumbersome, preferring to replace the graphics card entirely. Engineers have shared guidelines on how to repair such graphics cards, but it requires professional individuals with the necessary equipment to complete the task. Average users are strongly discouraged from attempting repairs.
