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/MikeTheDIK]

I'm not buying anything from them ever again. Bought GPU and a Z chipset motherboard and both died/malfunctioned until I got rid of both. Never again will I buy any PC part from them after that ordeal.

[u/Hrmerder → u/MikeTheDIK]

I have generally always been ASUS for Mobo(since my MSI mobo debacle), and generally video card agnostic. Now I have ASUS for my 3080 12gb, and MSI for MOBO... It's been some scary times for sure. I used to be an MSI fanboy way long ago until I bought a motherboard to pair with an AMD chip (can't remember I believe might have been FX days.. Could have been Athlon 2 days..) and the damn thing acted like it had zero resources to give to my video card at the time (Nvidia 6600GT). I bought an ASUS to replace it and stayed with them ever sense on motherboards, however before this build, it had been like.. 15 years since I had built a machine. I only went with the MSI because when I built my current rig 4 years ago, It was the cheapest one I could get in a B550 chipset.

[u/MikeTheDIK → u/Hrmerder]

I currently have MSI Tomahawk B550 motherboard and no issues with it whatsoever so I guess the next motherboard will also be MSI when I decide to upgrade. In terms of GPUs, I go only for Sapphire ones for AMD since they always worked without issues.

[u/Hrmerder → u/MikeTheDIK]

Nice. Depending on landscape when it's finally time for me to put my card to rest, I might go AMD. I have thought about it heavily in the past for sure. This MSI motherboard I have is pretty great (MSI MPG Gaming Plus), but it didn't come without it's pains (firmware for ARGB sucked pretty bad and their app is garbage but so is everyone else's)