Gigabyte GPUs cracking, and are refused an RMA
One crack and its kaput, even Gigabyte won't save you from it
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If you’ve got one of its GPUs, you might want to be careful as to its installation and usage, particularly any sagging. As Louis Rossman has gone through a range of reported Gigabyte GPUs that have cracked by the PCIe lanes, specifically mostly on the back hook you find behind the slot that clamps it down.
Although, these may look like surface issues or nothing too important, if deep enough, they can cause issues to the card. In fact, they were most likely noticed as causing problems with the card and preventing it from working properly. In some of the examples shown by Louis, the cracks have gone through some layers and broken up the data lines in that part of the graphics card.
Louis Rossman reviewing the sent-in cracks, source: Louis Rossman
The problem may come from the cheapening out on the manufacturing of the cards, with a weaker part or with less reinforcement, the cracking may be allowed to occur. This is especially inconvenient for the cards that have grown in size and weight, this should be a factor to consider and make sure is sorted out before full release.
What makes it even worse is that Gigabyte has been refusing RMAs of these cards if they have been sent back to them. With the red arrow sticker, you may see on some of the screenshots or plentiful eBay listings, it points out the physical damage on the card. And according to its warranty, it won’t cover physical damage to the card that you may have inflicted.
As such, the cards shown tend to be sold off or taken to repair shops. As Louis is an advocate of repairs and not throwing electronics away, there is in fact a repair guide for cracked RTX 30/40 series Gigabyte GPUs. Although it does require some technical skill, specialized tools, and materials so it’s not an easy method. But have some been successfully done with the jumper wires placed in for the data lines.
