Owners of expensive Nvidia GeForce RTX Founders Edition graphics cards are encountering an unexpected flaw: the serial numbers are starting to wear out and become unreadable. Users reported that repair requests (RMA) were denied because the device was not recognized.
Image source: NVIDIA
The issue came to attention after user Willing-Avocado-4830 complained on the Reddit platform. He tried to return the faulty RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card, but was rejected by Nvidia support. The reason is that the serial number is difficult to read and has completely faded over time. Although official comments from company representatives subsequently disappeared from public view, the fact that there was a technical glitch during the device’s verification process resonated widely with the community.
Users of other flagship models have confirmed similar situations, with the flaw not only affecting the most expensive GeForce RTX 5090, but also other models in the Founders Edition series. editorial computer gamer We also found evidence of license plate fading on our RTX 5080 FE test unit, which suggests there’s a systemic issue rather than a random manufacturing flaw on a specific device.
Previously, the serial number was on a sticker, but on some new Founders Edition models, Nvidia has placed them directly on the bottom of the PCIe bracket. The exact reason for the disappearance of the inscription has not yet been determined: it could be due to the constant heat generated in the closed case or to mechanical friction due to frequent replacement of parts.
The serial number may be required to verify the authenticity of the device and its warranty status, especially since Nvidia’s US warranty only applies to the original purchaser, not the person who purchased the graphics card. At the same time, Nvidia’s public information on the RMA process does not clearly indicate whether a readable serial number is a prerequisite for application. Additionally, warranty policies vary by country. Experts recommend that owners of RTX Founders Editions with clearly visible markings take a photo of the serial number and save the photo, just in case.
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