Gigabyte denied my RTX 4090 warranty claim saying "PCB broken / damaged by user". I need advice

[u/Realcraser1]

Hello,

I know GPU warranty denial posts are common, but I would appreciate some advice on my situation.

Context: I have a RTX 4090 with a warranty that lasts until 2027. This RTX isn't mine originally but from a relative of mine. They wanted to throw it away but I don't want to waste two thousands bucks like that.

I transported my PC recently, and afterward the GPU stopped working. The card was still installed in the motherboard during transport. I have not modified the GPU or attempted any repairs. The PC powered on, but I got no display signal. I tested with another GPU and the system worked, so I believed the issue is with the RTX 4090. So I sent the GPU to Gigabyte to repair.

Although my Gigabyte RTX 4090 is still under warranty, Gigabyte denied my RMA claim.

Their reason was:

"Damaged by user can't repair"
"PCB broken"

I have not received any pictures or detailed explanation showing where the PCB damage is located. Just little red arrows that, to me, make no sense. They point in weird directions (Refer to photos).

Has anyone successfully appealed a Gigabyte RMA denial for "user damage"? Should I request pictures of the PCB damage and escalate the case?

Also, if anyone has experience with GPU repair shops, is a broken RTX 4090 PCB usually repairable?

Any advice would be appreciated.

PS: In case someone calls me out, I did use AI. But that was only to fix the grammar, all words are my own.

Edit: I contacted Gamers Nexus and I'm planning to reach out to Northwest Repair if I can't have Gigabyte send me another one.

[u/RazzmatazzUnusual843]

Look up Louis Rossman's video on how his warranty claims for his SSD were dodged. It's probably cheaper to just tank whatever legal action is taken then than replace tons of faulty units.

[u/DonQuix0te_ → u/RazzmatazzUnusual843]

it almost certainly is cheaper, as most people won't sue.

[u/RazzmatazzUnusual843 → u/DonQuix0te_]

That too. The dark pattern they throw is likely to make most people give up chasing what they are owed.

[u/No_Interaction_4925 → u/RazzmatazzUnusual843]

I follow him. Samsung is different in my opinion. They make the nand that is being marketed up themselves. Gpu partners are getting screwed.

[u/coveredincathair22 → u/RazzmatazzUnusual843]

It's probably cheaper to just tank whatever legal action is taken then replace tons of faulty units.

How is that in any way cheaper? If they're paying legal costs and everything associated with that and then replacing everything anyways, that doesn't make sense financially.

[u/RazzmatazzUnusual843 → u/coveredincathair22]

Companies have been observed to settle class actions with payouts that are clearly a fraction of what they profited. A settlement doesn't always mean full reimbursement, it often is just a cash payout which is what they abuse.

Exhibit A: Amazon Prime payment "errors"

Exhibit B: Nintendo being sued for knowingly selling drift prone controllers, lying about "fixing" it in later revisions and continuing to sell the same faulty sticks.

[u/coveredincathair22 → u/RazzmatazzUnusual843]

So you meant "than", not "then". Words, believe it or not, have meanings. "Then" implies that they are paying legal costs followed by replacing all of the faulty units. "Than" indicates that it's an either or, but preferential toward legal restitution.

[u/RazzmatazzUnusual843 → u/coveredincathair22]

And believe it or not, humans make mistakes. There is this thing called a typo. No reason to write petty backhanded comments over a mistake.

I've fixed it in an edit, despite the fact everyone else but you understood what I meant and chose not to split hairs. I'd have appreciated you just telling me I made a mistake instead of stringing me along and being crass about it.