A user on Reddit reported a hardware failure involving a GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition graphics card. The owner, known as Maker_753, discovered that a small section of the radiator fins had detached from the main cooling structure near the power connector.
The graphics card was purchased in August 2023. The damage occurred shortly after the expiration of the three-year warranty period provided by Nvidia. The owner stated that the device had not been subjected to any physical impacts or drops.
Experts suggest that the section, which was likely attached to the heat pipes via soldering, may have failed due to repeated thermal cycling. While the owner considered using a heat-resistant adhesive for repairs, professional technicians advised seeking a service center instead.
The detached component is relatively small, which suggests it may not significantly impact the overall cooling performance of the GPU. However, its proximity to the power connector leaves some uncertainty regarding the thermal stability of that specific area. Currently, this appears to be an isolated incident.
