ZOTAC RTX 5090 Overheats and Catches Fire During Battlefield 6 Gameplay, Melting PCB and Damaging Motherboard

Recent reports highlight a shocking incident involving the ZOTAC RTX 5090 graphics card, which reportedly caught fire during use. This event underscores potential risks associated with high-performance GPUs and raises concerns about safety standards in electronic components.

Fire Erupts from ZOTAC RTX 5090: A Serious Safety Concern

In an alarming case shared by a user identified as “york4517″on the Gamer TW forums, the RTX 5090 was not just damaged; it was engulfed in flames. Unlike more common issues such as melted power connectors, this incident involved an actual fire lasting approximately 10 seconds. According to the user, the flames originated from the junction where the GPU’s printed circuit board (PCB) is nearest to the motherboard.

Close-up of a computer component with visible liquid residue and exposed wiring. — Devastating damage to the ZOTAC RTX 5090 Amp Extreme Infinity. Image Credit: Gamer.com.tw

Reports suggest that the fire started near the MSVDD rail, which supplies power to the memory section of the GPU. The user was in the middle of playing Battlefield 6 when the system froze, followed by the shocking sight of flames erupting from the computer. Such a catastrophic failure raises significant questions about compliance with international electrical safety standards, which dictate that consumer electronics should not ignite under failure conditions.

Computer motherboard with burnt marks on case corner. — Severe burn marks on the motherboard, indicating extensive damage. Image Credit: Gamer.com.tw

Typically, electronic components may melt or produce smoke in faulty situations, yet they should self-extinguish in order to minimize fire risks. The possibility of flames poses additional dangers, potentially leading to extensive damage not only to the GPU but also to the entire system and its environment. As for the cause, @unikoshardware suggests a failure in the MOSFETs could be to blame. Although such failures typically do not result in flames, this specific ZOTAC model appears to have a design flaw that may have contributed to this incident.

Disassembled NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card on a desk, showing internal components. — No active cooling for the MSVDD rail could be a contributing factor. Image Credit: @Madness727

A detailed teardown by @Madness727 revealed that the memory VRM, or MSVDD rail, lacks active cooling, making thermal management especially challenging. This critical oversight has been identified as one of the major drawbacks during the examination of the component. However, a thorough investigation is necessary to determine the precise cause of this alarming event.

The affected user has sent the damaged GPU back to ZOTAC for further analysis. While the decision regarding an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) remains uncertain, incidents like this raise significant flags for manufacturers. If it can be demonstrated that the unit caught fire in normal use with no tampering, ZOTAC may face serious reputational and financial repercussions.

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