Gigabyte addresses PCB cracking issues with a revised design — RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 GPUs shouldn't crack anymore
Gigabyte has created a new PCB design that is much more durable near the PCIe locking mechanism.
Gigabyte is taking the initiative to stop its high-end RTX 40 series graphics cards from cracking. MisinformationALWAYS on the Nvidia subreddit reports that Gigabyte introduced new RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 Gaming OC graphics card revisions featuring bolstered PCB designs less susceptible to cracking near the PCIe locking mechanism. This new PCB design was also discovered on Gigabyte's new RTX 4080 Super models.
Gigabyte has had a steady track record of poor PCB reliability issues, starting with the RTX 30 series. Still, this problem has escalated to encompass many board partner models of Nvidia's high-end RTX 40 series GPUs. Graphics card coolers have become significantly larger and heavier since the RTX 20 series, forcing graphics card PCBs to handle more weight than they normally would otherwise.
MisinformationALWAYS shared an image of the new PCB design Gigabyte has created for its new RTX 40 series revisions. The new PCB design features more surface area near the PCIe locking tab, where most (if not all) of Gigabyte's RTX 40 series GPUs were cracking. Gigabyte's outgoing PCB design is much more fragile, featuring a long gap between the PCIe locking point and the bottom of the graphics card itself.
Only time will tell if Gigabyte's new PCB design rectifies its PCB cracking problem. But there's no denying that the new design looks substantially more durable than its outgoing designs. Hopefully, this design will be duplicated by other add-in board partners experiencing the same issues on their high-end RTX 40 series graphics cards.
This PCB cracking phenomenon is quite severe, where almost every RTX 4090 is at risk. A few months ago, we covered a report where a repair technician received 19 cracked RTX 4090 graphics cards, all featuring PCB cracks near the PCIe locking mechanism and making the graphics cards completely inoperable. It's still unknown how many RTX 4080s or 4090s are suffering from this issue, but it seems to be more pronounced in pre-built systems that were roughly handled in shipping.
If you want to pick up one of Gigabyte's newly revised RTX 4090 and 4080 graphics cards, the new models go by the v1.1 revision. Gigabyte's RTX 4080 Supers all come with the new PCB design, so you don't have to worry about PCB revisions with Nvidia's new Super GPU.
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Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.
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Heiro78 Any news on what they are doing for affected customers of the original PCB that haven't yet failed? Would they be covered under the original 5 year warranty?Reply -
Amdlova Gigabug and broken pcb only will sell when don't have any choice.Reply
It's hard to get the market name and easy to lost it. "The old cards with broken pcb? Will say it's user faulty". -
umeng2002_2 Anyone not using some GPU support at this point, is just asking for trouble. There is no way this could happen if you use a support.Reply -
yeyibi Reply
At the price of a 4090, it should include all the components necessary for safe operation, without third party pieces.umeng2002_2 said:Anyone not using some GPU support at this point, is just asking for trouble. There is no way this could happen if you use a support. -
y_zass Reply
How about the who knows how many people that have had their RMA's denied due to cracking? There are tons of videos online of cards with the round white stickers with a red arrow on them that Gigabyte like to slap on any card with one of these cracks and deny the RMA for damage. Just doesn't feel right to meHeiro78 said:Any news on what they are doing for affected customers of the original PCB that haven't yet failed? Would they be covered under the original 5 year warranty? -
mrsense Reply
My Gigabyte 4090 came with a bracket. After all it is a one heavy mf.yeyibi said:At the price of a 4090, it should include all the components necessary for safe operation, without third party pieces. -
Notton The GPU industry should ditch the locking tab entirely.Reply
Asus and MSI cards crack in the exact same spot, although not as commonly as Gigabyte.
Also, mobo makers should ditch those reinforced slots. Mobos are cheaper than a 4060, so if one of those has to be sacrificed, it may as well be the mobo. -
Heiro78 Reply
Well you've answered my question then. They deny the RMA. Truly sucksy_zass said:How about the who knows how many people that have had their RMA's denied due to cracking? There are tons of videos online of cards with the round white stickers with a red arrow on them that Gigabyte like to slap on any card with one of these cracks and deny the RMA for damage. Just doesn't feel right to me -
Heiro78 Reply
And if the bracket is installed properly. It could be that the main pressure point is still on the PCIE slot until the sag gets bad enough that it switches to the bracket instead. I've made sure to install mine while holding the card up before tightening the bracket.umeng2002_2 said:Anyone not using some GPU support at this point, is just asking for trouble. There is no way this could happen if you use a support.