Unverified BIOS allegedly pushes RTX 5090D to over 2000 Watts — extreme firmware update designed for Asus ROG Astral 5090D is not for the faint-hearted

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Are you ready to make your GPU go boom?

Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090 32GB OC
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

An unverified BIOS for the Asus ROG Astral 5090D has been leaked online, showing a board power limit of 2,001 watts —almost three and a half times higher than the standard 575-watt power limit on the vanilla RTX 5090. As spotted by UNIKO's Hardware, this is an unverified BIOS file, warning its users to “exercise caution when flashing it to your graphics card, and always have a backup.” Aside from that, you probably need custom power delivery that can handle that amount of power, as even the standard connectors that come with the RTX 5090 are prone to melting while running at the standard power level.

Pumping this amount of power into your GPU will likely overwhelm its stock cooling solution, so you likely need a custom water (or liquid nitrogen) loop to ensure that your GPU doesn't cook itself. Of course, you also need a power supply that can deliver that amount of juice. Additionally, since this is an unverified BIOS, you can expect your GPU’s warranty to be automatically voided the moment you install it.

Asus RTX 5090D 2001-watt BIOS

(Image credit: TechPowerUp)

This isn’t the first time that we’re seeing a kilowatt-level GPU, as Galax launched a dual 16-pin RTX 5090D extreme overclocking in China that can handle up to 2,000 watts. It has eventually landed on eBay for an eye-watering $5,500, allowing anyone with the cash to build an over-the-top gaming PC. This unverified BIOS will make it easier for anyone to try breaking records, though, because Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090 GPUs are available globally (versus the China-only Galax HOF OC Lab XOC RTX 5090D). Although this leaked BIOS is designed for the RTX 5090D, VideoCardz notes that it is likely compatible with all Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090 GPUs.

The 2,000-watt BIOS isn’t designed for the average gamer or even the seasoned professional. Instead, it’s more likely built for those who are looking to break overclocking records. So, if you have an Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090 and you’re a little bit mad, you can go ahead and try breaking records with this BIOS at home (but seriously, don’t do it unless you’re a pro overclocker).

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Jowi Morales
Jowi Morales
Contributing Writer

Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • jp7189
    Unverified? If that were true, then it would indicate 5090D doesn't require a signed vbios. Otherwise, this is a signed (intentional) release by Nvidia or an authorize partner.
    Reply
  • Papusan
    Why this sloppy journalism?

    From the article.... The 2,000-watt BIOS isn’t designed for the average gamer or even the seasoned professional. Instead, it’s more likely built for those who are looking to break overclocking records. So, if you have an Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090 and you’re a little bit mad, you can go ahead and try breaking records with this BIOS at home (but seriously, don’t do it unless you’re a pro overclocker).

    Who said this XOC vbios for 5090D Astral works with RTX 5090's ? Also Galax XOC firmware don't work with 5090's. Only with 5090D - D for David.
    Reply
  • bill001g
    Papusan said:
    Why this sloppy journalism?
    This is one of those articles that has been pretty much copied from other publications. If you search this it seems the first batch of articles came out a week ago when I first saw it and now a bunch of the more main stream publication have picked it up. There are a bunch from china that I have not bothered to translate from early july. Not of lot of the so called tech journalists really have technical backgrounds so you have to be rather suspect unless you can find the original source of the information.

    They are all pretty much the same articles with little new information. It does not appear any one has actually run it on a non 5090d. It seems it can really only be run on a card that has 2 power connectors....2000 watts is way over what a single connector can run and those already melt. It is not likely anyone is going to even attempt it. Loading the BIOS is the easy part if it actually works trying to run it without major hardware modifications is not very likely.

    It seems this was "leaked" when someone posted benchmark tests to one of the overclock sites. One of the comments said a normal 5090 still got better scores.
    Reply
  • teeejay94
    The GPU already lacks circuit protections from the manufacturer (Nvidia) and the plug melt at 4-600watts already so you think even with power balanced across all cables and split perfectly across two PCIe5 plugs (extremely unlikely) you're still running 1000 watts through each plug which will cause them to melt, and if they aren't "melting" let's see them over infrared, I bet they're glowing on the verge of failure which is essentially a failure already.
    Reply
  • wwenze1
    Yes, erm, board power limit setting. You know you can set your CPU to 9999W power limit too?
    Reply