Bad news from Gigabyte, which seems to be dealing with a PCB problem on its RTX 30 and RTX 40. In fact, a number of boards seem to be suffering from a cracked PCIe connector. The problem is said to be linked to a design fault, with a PCB that is too flexible.
PCB cracking concerns on Gigabyte’s RTX 30 and RTX 40!
A number of users have reported problems with their Gigabyte graphics cards. The cards in question are said to have stopped working due to a cracked PCB at the PCIe connector. However, this situation is far from inconsequential, since it can lead to a break in the connector tracks.
JazyTwoCent made a video to explain the problem. According to JazyTwoCent, the problem is linked to the PCB ‘s design, which clearly lacks rigidity. On an RTX 4090, he can be seen pressing on the card’s PCIe connector, which is particularly flexible… Much more flexible than that of an Asus RTX 4080 TUF Gaming. The worst part of the story is the thickness of the circuit, which is thicker on Gigabyte than on Asus.
Of course, the large size of the heatsinks is not without consequences either. If you’re faced with a PCIe bracket that isn’t firmly attached to the heatsink, you end up with more stress on the PCB. All this is likely to lead to cracking… Not to mention user manipulation when plugging into the motherboard slot or connecting power supply connectors.
Worst of all, Gigabyte indicates that this type of damage is not covered by the warranty . As for repairs, success is far from 100% guaranteed… The tracks have to be exposed, then soldered to re-establish the connections. Not an easy fix.
Finally, in view of what is described here, the best solution is to mount your graphic card vertically. This seems to us to be the least dangerous mounting method.
