RTX 5090 Capacitor Explosion: The Firecracker Incident Shaking High-End GPUs

Users of Nvidia’s flagship GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card are encountering a troubling hardware issue: exploding capacitors. In a recent incident, a PNY ARGB OC RTX 5090 experienced a loud explosion, resembling a firecracker going off, leading to sparks, smoke, and bent heatsink fins.

What Happened?

The RTX 5090 owner was editing a video late at night when the chaotic event occurred. According to the user, the explosion was so loud it startled him from his seat. The screen went black immediately after, with visible smoke and an acrid smell of burning electronics filling the room. Upon inspection, a capacitor on the GPU was found blown, causing significant physical damage by bending surrounding heatsink fins.

Technical Details and Context

The GPU was running under normal temperatures, below 70°C, far from overheating levels.
The setup included a robust 1300W Super Flower Leadex III 80+ Gold power supply connected via the official 12VHPWR cable, ruling out obvious external power irregularities.
No signs of cable melting or connector damage were present, suggesting the failure originated from the capacitor or assembly issues.

Community and Expert Insights

Reports suggest this is likely related to either faulty capacitors or problematic soldering during manufacturing, particularly pointing toward PNY’s assembly process rather than the Nvidia GPU silicon itself. Capacitors have critical temperature ranges and can explode if stressed or damaged—heat from contact with the heatsink may have contributed.

Many users recognize this is not an isolated incident, as similar capacitor failures and connector melting problems have plagued the RTX 5090 since its launch, fueling concerns about the card's stability and manufacturing quality.

Manufacturer Response and RMA

PNY has acknowledged the issue and approved the affected user's RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization), though some users report delays and lack of clear communication during the replacement process. The incident highlights an ongoing challenge for GPU buyers in 2025, where even ultra-premium models must be scrutinized for hardware reliability.

What This Means for RTX 5090 Owners

These incidents not only risk hardware damage but also pose safety concerns due to sparks and smoke during operation. RTX 5090 owners should monitor their systems closely for early signs of capacitor or power issues and maintain good airflow and cooling. Users are advised to stay in touch with their board partners for support and replacements if problems arise.

Conclusion

The RTX 5090 capacitor explosion cases underline the importance of quality control in high-end GPU production. While Nvidia's architecture remains cutting-edge, component-level flaws such as this can severely impact user experience and safety. Buyers may want to consider these issues when investing in the latest flagship graphics technology.