Burnt 3080TI, attempting to understand the reason behind it.
Burnt 3080TI, attempting to understand the reason behind it.
I just moved into a new house and used the GPU for setup. Everything seemed normal until the white motherboard light came on. After a couple of days, the PC stopped showing anything and the fan ran at full speed. I turned it off and tried to restart, but there was no display. I reinstalled the GPU multiple times without fixing the issue. The card heated up quickly when powered on, but the fans worked fine. Recently, I noticed a faint plastic odor—didn’t realize it was there before. Now I’m trying to understand what caused this problem before installing another GPU.
Do you have an inexpensive power supply unit available? Are there any unusual adapters connected to the graphics card? How long has the GPU been in use (i.e., when was it first used)? Was it purchased new or refurbished? When you moved the GPU, was it securely packed to prevent movement or damage during transport? All of these details aside, do you still have coverage on the component? Based on your purchase timing, many graphics cards come with warranties lasting several years, often exceeding seven years depending on the manufacturer.
Photos would be useful first. What you shared seems like an educated guess based on your description, not a confirmed event. Likely, it was a VRM failure. The 3080s typically deliver poor power compared to their energy use, which should fall under warranty if applicable.
PSU is MSI A750GF, I shared someone else's build list. We discussed with friends and believe the likely reason was a 3080ti power surge. I understand some people say these GPUs require at least 850W power supplies, but I wasn’t aware of that back then. The GPU is from Gigabyte, still has one year of warranty, but sending it back to the retailer in China is inconvenient. Could using the incorrect power cable be the cause? I might have used a monitor power cable for this, but I’m almost certain not.
I received it two years and two months ago, it was brand new. I stored it properly in its original packaging—anti-static bag, foam wraps, etc.—and didn’t use any adapters. It performed perfectly for two days before stopping suddenly.
The CPU cooler appears distorted in those images... Is it possible the GPU is causing the issue, or does the system start with another GPU?
Are you located in a humid region? Dust levels are normal, but it can draw in moisture—possibly introduced during relocation and settling into certain spots. To verify if your GPU is the cause, consider testing it on another system or swapping GPUs within your current setup. The smell might be misleading; the GPU actively circulates air.