A Zotac customer received an RTX 5090 graphics card after their RTX 4090 failed repeatedly. This unexpected upgrade matters because it shows how warranty disputes can result in receiving next-generation hardware instead of a standard repair. Buyers relying on standard warranty terms should note that replacement units may carry different conditions.
Replacement unit carries 30-day warranty instead of standard three years
The incident involves the Zotac GAMING GeForce RTX 4090 AMP Extreme AIRO model. The user experienced persistent system crashes, including blue screens of death, freezing, and visual artifacts. These issues persisted over the course of a year and included PCIe communication errors.
- Original GPU Model: Zotac GAMING GeForce RTX 4090 AMP Extreme AIRO
- Replacement GPU Model: Zotac GeForce RTX 5090 SOLID
- Replacement Warranty Period: 30 days
- Original Warranty Period: 3 years
- RMA Count: 4
Zotac processed four separate RMA requests for the faulty RTX 4090 before taking action. Instead of issuing a fifth replacement for the same model, the company sent a Zotac GeForce RTX 5090 SOLID card. This specific model identifier confirms the hardware generation shift in the replacement.
The replacement RTX 5090 comes with a 30-day warranty period. This is a significant reduction from the standard 3-year warranty that typically covers new RTX 4090 units. Zotac stated that the replacement unit passed standard benchmarks before shipping.
The Reddit user Prudent_Echidna1254 shared that Zotac sent the RTX 5090 rather than a fifth RMA. The user noted they faced BSOD, freezing, artifacts, and PCIe errors with their RTX 4090. Zotac clarified that the replacement unit could be open box, refurbished, or new.
Source: NotebookCheck
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