Recently, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 series of graphics cards found itself in yet another controversy when a user on Reddit reported a fire incident with his Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090. The card unexpectedly caught fire during regular use, resulting in damage to both the graphics card and the motherboard. Priced above $2,800, this high-end graphics card far exceeds NVIDIA's recommended retail price of $2,000.

According to the user, the issue arose after finishing a gaming session and browsing the web when the computer unexpectedly shut down. Upon restarting, the graphics card started smoking and subsequently caught fire. A closer examination revealed significant burn damage to the printed circuit board (PCB) near the PCIe connector, with clear scorch marks left on the motherboard's chipset heatsink. Initial analyses suggest that a multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) might have caused the fire. Typically, MLCCs help stabilize voltage and enhance performance; however, in this instance, the component overheated and ruptured, leaving noticeable scorch marks. Experts suspect causes like manufacturing defects, voltage spikes, or subpar material quality. While MLCCs, unlike traditional electrolytic capacitors, are less likely to explode, they can still fail under extreme thermal conditions.

This isn't the first reported issue with the RTX 5090 series. There have been previous incidents involving melted 12-pin power connectors (12VHPWR/12V-2x6). Although NVIDIA asserts that their newer connector design had resolved overheating risks, consumers remain wary. In this instance, the ASUS ROG Astral fire seems unrelated to the power connector, as users have shown intact connectors and cables, pointing instead to potential flaws in the internal design or component choices of the graphics card. The ROG Astral, as ASUS' flagship series, boasts high performance and reliability with features like a quad-fan cooling system, a reinforced metal frame, and an 80-amp MOSFET power supply. Unfortunately, this event highlights certain risks in extreme scenarios.

Built on NVIDIA's latest Blackwell architecture, the RTX 5090 features 32GB of GDDR7 memory and a 512-bit memory bus, with an official power consumption of 575W—125W more than its predecessor, the RTX 4090. ASUS has overclocked the card to a 3.5GHz core frequency and 34Gbps memory speed using Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) cooling, which led to several benchmark records. However, the combination of high power consumption and intense loads may demand greater component stability. Industry insiders caution that inadequate MLCC quality or circuit designs that fail to adequately address heat dissipation or voltage fluctuations could lead to similar issues.

Following this incident, the renowned hardware review team "Gamers Nexus" proactively reached out to the user, offering to purchase the damaged graphics card for a detailed investigation. While this marks the first reported incident of a ROG Astral card catching fire, when combined with prior instances of connectors melting, black screens, and other failures, the quality control of the RTX 5090 is under scrutiny.

The ASUS ROG Astral is a unique model with its 3.8-slot thickness, 358mm length, and sophisticated cooling solution. Official data suggests that its vapor chamber cooling technology and phase change thermal pads enhance cooling efficiency by 30%, theoretically managing high temperatures effectively. However, the incident demonstrates that cooling design alone may not mitigate component flaws. ASUS is planning to release a liquid-cooled version of the ROG Astral LC RTX 5090, equipped with a 360mm cooling unit that may further reduce risks, though its market effectiveness remains to be seen.

As of now, neither NVIDIA nor ASUS has released an official statement on the matter. Meanwhile, as the RTX 50 series gradually launches, supply chain data indicates a global shortage of RTX 5090 stock, with some retailers opting to stockpile the RTX 5080 instead of selling it separately. Amidst this backdrop, these quality issues undeniably cast a shadow over the current generation of flagship graphics cards. Conversely, AMD's forthcoming Radeon RX 9070 series has appeared on e-commerce platforms with a starting price of just $649, focusing on cost-effectiveness and potentially gaining market traction.