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Cutting Corners: Nvidia’s RTX series graphics cards are in such short supply that at least one retailer sells units marked as slightly damaged – possibly still selling at inflated prices. Nvidia claims only a small number of desktop GPUs and no laptop models are affected by missing ROPs. However, users should read the fine print on each product page and use diagnostic software in order to confirm that nothing is wrong. VideoCardz spotted a German retailer Alternate selling an RTX-5090 graphics card, while stating that it was missing ROPs. This can reduce gaming performance by as much as 10%. The listing disappeared quickly, possibly because it was sold despite the store warning.
Nvidia admitted last month that a fraction 1% of RTX GPUs 5090,5090D,5080,5070 Ti shipped with a few Raster Operations Pipeline units less than advertised.
GPU-Z confirms some 5090s only have 168 ROPs, instead of the 176 specified. Nvidia said it had not found any issues with mobile products. Some users reported missing ROPs on laptop GPUs as early as March.
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VideoCardz published a screen shot of a Zotac RTX5090 store page warning that the GPU only had 168 ROPs. The card was priced the same as a fully-functional unit, EUR2,899 – a EUR670 premium to the EUR2,229 MSRP. Alternate does carry other GPUs, but none have been reported to have missing ROPs.
Customers that purchase GPUs from Alternate with missing ROPs are not eligible for exchange, but EU regulations guarantee refunds. Nvidia, on the other hand, has not provided any direct remedy to affected customers. It has only stated that it has resolved the manufacturing issue, and recommended that users with concerns should contact their GPU vendors.
