A YouTube enthusiast got a free replacement for his broken RTX 5090.

YouTube channel NorthridgeFix, specializing in video card repair, got Free replacement RTX 5090 Founders Edition, despite the fact that the video card was damaged during installation of a custom water block, and the warranty was automatically voided. NVIDIA was accommodating after the complaint—this was a unique case and unlikely to happen again to the average user.

The RTX 5090 FE uses a modular architecture with three PCBs., connected by fragile internal connectors. The main board (with GPU and memory) connects to separate modules for PCIe and video outputs via delicate 128-pin connector, reminiscent of solutions from mobile electronics. This component not sold separately, and any damage makes the card non-repairable.

The owner of the card decided to install liquid cooling and carefully disconnected the PCIe card, but during assembly, a fault occurred bending of one contact and breakage of the otherNorthridgeFix specialists confirmed: GPU The connector failed due to pressure on the connector—a typical issue with the Founders Edition. An attempt to purchase a replacement through NVIDIA was unsuccessful: such parts are not sold. However, after contacting a senior representative and indicating that it was media tech blogThe company replaced the card free of charge, despite the voided warranty.

This case is - exception to the rule, related to the channel's publicity. For regular users It's unlikely that such loyalty can be expectedIf you are planning to install a water cooling system, it is better to consider Custom versions of the RTX 5090 with a pre-installed water block or AIO, since disassembling the FE entails immediate loss of warranty and a high risk of damage.