A new report has emerged that suggests certain Nvidia RTX 5090 models are shipping with reduced Render Output Unit (ROP) units, resulting in decreased gaming performance. The affected GPUs have fewer than the advertised 176 ROPs.
Hardware sleuth MEGAsizeGPU alleges that Nvidia supplied Advanced International Business (AIB) partners with defective GB202 chips, leading to a hardware defect that cannot be corrected through software or BIOS updates. This issue has been reported in various RTX 5090 models, including those from MSI, Manli, Zotac, Gigabyte, and Nvidia’s own Founders Edition model.
To confirm the findings, GPU-Z and HWiNFO acquired data through NVAPI, ruling out software errors. Affected GPUs exhibit a performance drop of up to 11% in benchmark tests compared to the RTX 5090 Founders Edition model.
The reduced ROP count is believed to be caused by Nvidia using slightly trimmed-down GB202 chips to meet demand during the Blackwell shortage. Retailers have reported long wait times for customers, with some putting them on hold for up to 14 weeks.
Nvidia has not commented on the matter yet. If the issue cannot be fixed through software, a recall or replacement might be necessary. However, it’s essential to wait for an official statement from Nvidia before taking any further action.
Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/some-rtx-5090s-are-shipping-with-missing-rop-units-leading-to-less-gaming-performance-report