Nvidia acknowledges an uncommon performance issue with the RTX 5090.

      In an effort to solidify its Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card's presence in the market, the manufacturer and its retail partners have encountered some performance-related functionality issues with the GPU.

      Various users have acquired the RTX 5090 GPU from different retailers and reported a specific issue where the GPU has fewer ROPs (Raster Operations Pipeline units) than expected, affecting its capability to effectively render images during 3D post-processing. A member of the TechPowerUp forums mentioned that their GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, provided by Zotac, was showing a lower ROP count than it should have. The member attempted to resolve the issue by reinstalling software and changing the video BIOS, but these efforts were unsuccessful.

      Further investigation by TechPowerUp on a Zotac RTX 5090 GPU revealed it possessed 168 ROPs instead of the standard 176. Although this difference of 8 ROPs could indicate a 4.5% reduction in GPU performance, the publication noted performance drops exceeding 5% in benchmarks conducted with the flawed graphics cards.

      The issue appears to impact not just Zotac, but also ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, Palit, and NVIDIA GPUs, with enthusiasts concluding that it is more of a hardware problem than a software one. Nvidia has acknowledged the performance issues reported with the RTX 5090 GPU, stating that only a small fraction of graphics cards are affected. The company has also highlighted that the GeForce RTX 5090D, targeted at the Chinese market, and the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti have also experienced similar problems.

      We have identified a rare issue affecting less than 0.5% of GeForce RTX 5090 / 5090D and 5070 Ti GPUs, which possess one fewer ROP than specified. The average impact on graphical performance is 4%, with no effect on AI and Compute workloads. Consumers affected can reach out to the board manufacturer for a replacement, and the production issue has been addressed.

      – Nvidia

      YouTuber JayzTwoCents mentioned that anyone worried about the performance of their RTX 5090 can download TechPowerup’s GPU Information Utility, or search for TechPowerup GPU-Z, to check their specifications. The utility will provide all necessary information about the GPU, specifically indicating that the ROPs should read 176 for a functioning card. Any lower figure, such as 168 ROPs, may suggest a problem.

      For initial assistance, the YouTuber advises against returning the faulty GPU, as it could be resold to another customer, potentially causing longer wait times for a replacement. Instead, he recommends contacting the seller's customer service with a subject line like ‘Missing ROPs, response required,’ while being courteous, as many individuals are likely reaching out with similar issues at this time.