NVIDIA's latest graphics cards, the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5090D, have hit the market, but not without encountering significant challenges. Launched on January 30, these GPUs are intended to push the boundaries of performance. Yet, reports indicate many users are experiencing distressing issues, particularly with driver installations leading to bricked cards.
The RTX 5090D serves as a specialized variant aimed at the Chinese market, crafted to adhere to stringent U.S. export regulations. While this model features reduced AI capabilities, it shares the core specifications with its more global counterpart, the RTX 5090. Unfortunately, those who managed to purchase these limited-edition GPUs are finding themselves frustrated.
On various Chinese forums, including Chiphell and Baidu, users have recounted cases where their RTX 5090D units became non-functional post-driver installation. One user detailed their experience on Bilibili, explaining how after installing the latest GeForce driver on their Colorful-built RTX 5090D, the screen went black, rendering the graphics card undetectable.
Similar tales emerged from users with Manli's RTX 5090D, where the Gallardo version met the same fate—once operational, their systems suddenly ceased recognizing the GPU following attempts to install new drivers. A seller associated with third-party marketplaces such as Goofish indicated this problem seems widespread, asserting, “All NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 & RTX 5090D GPUs are affected by the same issue.”
These alarming reports suggest the problematic drivers could crash the GPUs, causing them to become unrecognized entirely. Beyond mere recognition failures, there are also unsettling claims of instances involving IC burnouts, leaving users with non-operational, expensive hardware.
Interestingly, the trouble does not appear to be exclusive to the RTX 5090D, as some owners of the mega powerful RTX 5090 are encountering the same difficulties. A user from the r/ASUS subreddit noted their inability to detect the RTX 5090 card on Windows or even within BIOS settings. Trial and error led to suggestions to toggle PCIe compatibility settings, with one user proposing changing the PCIe option from 5.0 to 4.0, hoping it would stabilize their system's performance.
The RTX 50 series, recognized for being fully compliant with Gen5 technology, introduces unique challenges likely tied to signaling issues when interfacing with older motherboards. A forum discussion hints at Gen5 motherboards possibly sharing lanes between M.2 and PCIe slots, which can cause significant compatibility headaches.
The crisis surrounding NVIDIA's GPUs has raised scrutiny over how the new graphics architecture handles various loads. Recent testing conducted by the PCMarket community has highlighted the dangers of using older 12VHPWR connector cables, which could potentially lead to melting incidents, especially under full load. Although no instances have yet been reported involving the new 12V-2x6 connectors, the concerns remain palpable, casting uncertainty over the durability of these new graphics cards.
Meanwhile, NVIDIA has introduced the GeForce 572.16 WHQL drivers, which are now incorporated with “Smooth Motion” support. This new feature aims to provide AI-generated frames between traditionally rendered frames, giving the RTX 50 series users enhanced gameplay smoothness—a timely response to rival AMD's Fluid Motion Frames 2 technology. Potentially, this advancement could bridge the gap for games not yet supporting DLSS versions 3 and above, eleving framerate limitations for various titles, and enhancing overall performance.
Despite these advancements, NVIDIA's Jacob Freeman has cautioned users not to expect the same quality as native DLSS 3 or 4 game implementations. He noted, “Smooth Motion will experience higher latency and reduced image quality,” making it clear this feature may be ideal for certain titles, but it can't quite match the fidelity provided by DLSS.
The anticipation for NVIDIA's subsequent releases looms as the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 reportedly gear up for launch this March. Industry speculation suggests these new cards may staggeringly compete with AMD's anticipated Radeon RX 9000 series offerings. According to Chaintech, NVIDIA's launch of the RTX 5060 variants will place them directly against AMD's mid-range graphics strategy, setting the stage for yet another tech rivalry.
Rumors surrounding the RTX 5060 models indicate they may continue the trend of 8GB of VRAM—a commodity many enthusiasts hope to see phased out—and could expect pricing to undercut new AMD options if they maintain reasonable performance margins. Gamers eagerly anticipate greater power from these budget-friendly cards, allowing them entry to the RTX 50 series without settling for outdated VRAM capacities.
With inventory issues hindering the availability of existing models, the current situation holds industry-wide repercussions for NVIDIA. Consumers are left weighing the risks of upgrading amid troubling reports, and the waiting game continues as they ponder the performance merits of both NVIDIA and AMD competitors.
The tech community watches closely as these developments evolve, leaving gamers and enthusiasts eager for clarity and reliable products moving forward.