PNY GeForce RTX 5070 and RTX 5090 GPUs Suffer Capacitor Explosions, Raising Quality Concerns

Recent reports have surfaced about serious hardware failures affecting PNY’s GeForce RTX 5070 and RTX 5090 GPUs. Users have experienced catastrophic capacitor explosions during normal usage, including gaming and video editing, raising alarm bells about potential manufacturing defects or component quality issues in PNY's RTX 50 series cards.

What Happened?

The incidents involve capacitors on the GPU circuit boards violently failing and exploding, producing loud popping sounds, smoke, and the smell of burning electronics. One RTX 5090 user reported a “firecracker” explosion sound during video editing, resulting in sparks and smoke that bent the heatsink fins. Another RTX 5070 owner heard a loud pop while playing a game, followed by a burning smell. Visual inspection revealed a blown capacitor near the video output ports, part of the GPU’s power delivery circuitry.

Manufacturing Quality Under Scrutiny

Both failures seem linked to the same capacitor model, a classic aluminum electrolytic capacitor from CapXon’s KF series, designed to operate up to 105°C with a limited lifespan under heavy thermal and electrical loads. Investigation indicates that the capacitors were subjected to excessive heat—over 100°C—accelerating degradation and failure. Thermal imaging showed hotspots near the voltage regulators, contributing to rapid capacitor aging and eventual mechanical failure.

Is This a Widespread Issue?

So far, the explosive failures appear isolated to PNY’s RTX 50 series GPUs, specifically the RTX 5070 and RTX 5090 models. No similar capacitor explosions have been reported in RTX 50 series cards from other manufacturers. However, the back-to-back incidents within days highlight potential quality control or design issues that PNY needs to address urgently.

What Should Affected Users Do?

• Immediately power down the system if you hear unusual popping or burning smells from your GPU.
• Inspect the graphics card for visible damage, discoloration, or bulging capacitors.
• Contact PNY customer support to initiate an RMA (warranty replacement) process—affected users have successfully received replacements.
• Avoid using the affected GPU until it is repaired or replaced to prevent further damage or risk.

Broader Impact and Industry Challenges

These failures bring attention to the challenges of component sourcing and quality assurance in the graphics card industry, especially amid global supply chain pressures. High-performance GPUs generate significant heat, stressing components like capacitors and voltage regulators. Manufacturers must balance cost, performance, and durability to ensure reliability.

PNY’s RTX 50 series has faced criticism not only for these failures but also for occasional performance inconsistency, underscoring the importance of thorough testing and quality control for premium hardware.

Conclusion

While Nvidia’s flagship GPUs remain technologically impressive, component-level failures like exploding capacitors on PNY’s RTX 5070 and RTX 5090 spotlight risks lurking in the supply chain. Consumers should remain vigilant for signs of hardware issues and promptly seek manufacturer support when needed. Manufacturers must respond transparently and swiftly to maintain customer trust as the GPU market evolves.