Nvidia’s RTX 5090 Faces Stock Issues and Bricking Problems

Did you manage to snag an RTX 5090 during its release? If not, you’re not alone—stock shortages have made the card nearly impossible to find. And while missing out might feel like a bummer, there might be a silver lining: the RTX 5090 series is reportedly plagued by a mysterious bricking issue, leaving some early adopters with broken GPUs. Here’s what we know so far.

RTX 5090 Bricking Issues Surface

As reported by TweakTown, users have taken to forums to report that their RTX 5090 and its Chinese variant, the 5090D, have started bricking. Brands affected include Colorful, Manli, Gigabyte, and Asus. What’s causing this? Nobody knows for sure, but the issue seems to occur during driver updates.

Here’s what happens: after installing the updated driver, the screen goes black, and the computer no longer recognizes the card. That’s it. No warning, no easy fixes. It’s a nightmare scenario for anyone who’s just spent a small fortune on Nvidia’s flagship GPU.

A Possible Theory Behind the Problem

One forum post on a Chinese site has attempted to theorize what’s causing these failures. According to the user, the problem might involve a burned core:

“The RTX 5090D is bricked on its first release. Don’t rush to buy 5090s from home and abroad. All 5090Ds have exploded, possibly due to a burned core. Currently, even if you don’t enter the system, the card is not recognized in the BIOS. The current known information: the driver will cause the graphics card to crash with a high probability, with a small probability of screen distortion, and a very small probability of IC burn.”

If true, it’s safe to say Nvidia is dealing with a serious issue. For now, affected users are left with expensive paperweights, and the cause—be it drivers, BIOS issues, or something else entirely—remains unclear.

What Does This Mean for Nvidia and the GPU Market?

This bricking fiasco couldn’t come at a worse time for Nvidia. With stock shortages already frustrating potential buyers, news of malfunctioning GPUs adds fuel to the fire. Meanwhile, competitors like Intel might stand to benefit. Intel’s upcoming Battlemage GPUs could be exactly what the market needs, giving frustrated Nvidia customers a reason to jump ship.

While Nvidia scrambles to address the bricking issue, the question remains: is it worth waiting for the RTX 5090 to restock? Or is now the perfect time to explore alternatives? For those considering the 5090, you might want to hold off until Nvidia provides some answers.