Nvidia Investigates RTX 50 Series Troubles: BSODs, Black Screens, and Missing ROPs
The launch of Nvidia's highly awaited RTX 50 series cards has been less than smooth. Gamers report black screens, crashes, and BSODs. These complaints are widespread. Nvidia has acknowledged the situation and is investigating. A fix is not yet available.
Unstable Investigations for Crashing-Black Screen Issue
Customer complaints on Nvidia's support forums have gained attention. An Nvidia staff member stated, "The RTX 50 series instability issues are under investigation." They added, "Frustratingly, we're unable to provide a timeline for implementing fixes." The fix may require a driver or a VBIOS update. A hardware issue could necessitate the latter.
Instability reports are prevalent across RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and some RTX 40-series GPUs. This is especially true after users updated to Nvidia's 570 drivers. Reported symptoms range from in-game stuttering to system lockups with BSOD errors. Some users report their GPUs are effectively unusable.
Beyond Drivers? Firmware and Hardware Suspicions
Initially, issues were assumed to be driver-related. However, the nature of the problems suggests a more complex issue. Nvidia's statement hints at potential firmware issues with RTX 50 series cards. User workarounds offer some insight, but are not universal solutions.
These workarounds include:
- Downgrading PCIe Functionality: Forcing GPUs to PCIe Gen 4 speeds instead of Gen 5.
- Reducing Monitor Refresh Rates: Lowering refresh rates to 60Hz.
These tweaks sometimes worked, but not consistently. Even RTX 40-series and older cards experienced problems with the 570 driver. This suggests the RTX 50 series might have vulnerabilities exposed by the new drivers.
From Stability To An Impending Mess
Stability issues are not the only problem plaguing the RTX 50 series launch. From the start, the new GPUs have faced additional challenges:
- Dwindling Inventory: RTX 50 series card availability is scarce.
- Hefty Markups: Prices are significantly inflated.
- Melting 16-Pin Power Connectors: A recurring issue from previous generations persists.
- Stability Problems: As previously discussed.
Increasing ROP: A Defective ROP Confessed
Adding to the difficulties, Nvidia acknowledged another major problem. A small number of RTX 5090, RTX 5090D, and RTX 5070 Ti cards shipped with fewer ROPs than advertised. This manufacturing error, affecting less than 0.5% of cards, results in a performance decrease.
We have identified a rare issue affecting less than 0.5% (half a percent) of GeForce RTX 5090 / 5090D and 5070 Ti GPUs which have one fewer ROP than specified. The average graphical performance impact is 4%, with no impact on AI and Compute workloads. Affected consumers can contact the board manufacturer for a replacement. The production anomaly has been corrected.
- Nvidia Spokesperson
A 4% performance dip might seem minor. However, it is concerning that a high-end product fails to meet advertised specifications. Nvidia is offering replacements to affected customers.
Check Your ROPs with GPU-Z
If you own an RTX 5090, RTX 5090D, or RTX 5070 Ti, check for the missing ROP issue using GPU-Z. Correct ROP counts are:
- RTX 5090 / 5090D: 176 ROPs
- RTX 5070 Ti: 96 ROPs
If GPU-Z reports fewer ROPs, contact your board manufacturer for a replacement.
A Rushed Launch to Blame?
The RTX 50 series launch faces multiple issues. These problems raise questions about the launch process. Stability issues, manufacturing faults, and limited availability suggest a potentially rushed market release. Nvidia is investigating and working on fixes. Gamers and PC enthusiasts hope for quick solutions to fully utilize their costly RTX 50 series GPUs.
