NVIDIA’s latest endeavor with the GeForce RTX 5090 GPUs seems to have hit a snag. It appears that the integrated "Blackwell" GB202 chip is causing some trouble with several units.
Issues with NVIDIA’s Flagship RTX Blackwell GPU: Missing ROPs Highlight Defects in the GB202 Chip
Will gamers ever find stability in the GPU market? Initially, we grappled with limited availability, as NVIDIA’s top-tier RTX Blackwell model appeared only in scant numbers. Now, reports have emerged suggesting that some units of Team Green’s silicon are defective, resulting in significant performance issues. Among those affected, a ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5090 has come under scrutiny, with insights from @MEGAsizeGPU pointing to a fault with the Blackwell GB202 chip. Let’s delve into this further.
According to a tweet from MEGAsizeGPU on February 21, 2025, the culprit seems to be a flawed batch of GB202 chips. Unfortunately, the BIOS can’t rectify this issue, indicating a more severe underlying problem than initially thought.
For those not yet familiar with the situation, certain NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090s have been spotted with fewer ROPs on GPU-Z. This essentially means that customers owning these affected models are getting subpar performance. Initially, fingers pointed to potential glitches within GPU-Z for certain variants. However, the narrative has shifted, with evidence suggesting the core problem lies with the defective GB202 chip—unsurprisingly, not the best news for buyers.
Further corroborating this claim, an affected RTX 5090 was tested at HWINFO, which also detected a reduced ROP count. This points to a more significant issue beyond isolated software faults. While we currently see only a limited number of SKUs facing this problem, it seems to not be contained to just one AIB model. In fact, there’s speculation that every variant, including the FE model, might be at risk.
As we wait for more details, we’re touching base with NVIDIA for an update. Given the seriousness of the GB202 chip defect, it’s anticipated that NVIDIA will begin issuing replacements under RMA. Ideally, this issue won’t proliferate, as NVIDIA is already handling delays in their "mid-range" GPU production due to performance hiccups.
For those who own an RTX 5090, it’s crucial to check your ROP count. If it falls short of 176, please inform us. As this saga unfolds, we remain uncertain if other models like the GeForce RTX 5080 are implicated, but we’ll keep you posted as we learn more.
