Issues with RTX 4090 ?
Issues with RTX 4090 ?
Hey there! I recently got myself an RTX 4090 from a marketplace, but things didn’t go as planned :-(
My setup before was:
- Motherboard: Gigabyte Z590 GAMING X
- Power supply: Straight Power 11 850W
- CPU: Intel i5-11600K
- Operating system: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (with official drivers)
- GPU: RTX 3060
After purchasing the RTX 4090, I ordered the 12VHPWR cable from be quiet! (my PSU was marked as compatible)
Swapped in the new GPU and it worked fine.
But once I installed it, my PC failed to POST. I see a red VGA LED on the motherboard.
The fans spin, but the built-in RGB lights up too.
I tried several fixes:
- Re-seating the GPU
- Re-seating the 12VHPWR cable (both ends)
- Resetting CMOS
- Ensuring BIOS was updated
- Adjusting the Resizable BAR setting
- Disconnecting everything except one RAM stick
Then I installed a different GPU using the same 12VHPWR cable — it worked.
I managed to boot another PC with mine, but when I put heavy load on the GPU, problems resurfaced.
The OS would freeze, and I saw some PCI errors in the journal log.
Only by hard resetting could I recover, but after a few attempts, the red VGA LED appeared again.
Later, I replaced almost all components except RAM. My current specs are:
- Motherboard: Gigabyte B760 Gaming X DDR4
- Power supply: be quiet! Dark Power 14 1000W
- CPU: Intel i5-13500
The new PSU came with a fresh 12VHPWR cable, but the red VGA LED returned right away.
Interestingly, setting the integrated GPU as the primary device helped me boot with the 4090.
It still shows up in nvidia-smi, but freezing continues under heavy load.
I checked temperatures and power draw during stress tests — around 400-420W and 70°C.
I also experimented with older NVIDIA drivers, disabling GSP, and other tweaks I found online, but nothing resolved the issue.
At this stage, I think my GPU might be faulty, though I’m unsure what to do next, especially with prices rising again.
Any suggestions or solutions would be greatly appreciated!
I already told the seller about these problems, and he’s open to a return.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
PSU: be quiet! Straight Power 11 850W
Are you looking at the Platinum or Gold variant? How long has this unit been in use and did it ever power the RTX 3060 before the RTX 4090?
MB: Gigabyte B760 Gaming X DDR4
What BIOS version is installed on your motherboard?
I recently bought an RTX 4090 from the marketplace and I'm facing major problems with it :-(
Did you check if it was functioning before purchasing?
I managed to boot a friend's PC using the 4090.
It might be helpful to share these details with your friend's build:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
Please include the age of the PSU along with its make and model. Also, let me know the current BIOS version for your motherboard.
Do you have any suggestions on what else I could try or how I should proceed in my situation?
I recommend checking the entire PCB for anything unusual and verifying if the sticker on the back is intact. For a test, try installing Windows OS without activating it on a spare empty drive to see if the issues continue. If nothing changes, it's likely the issue lies with your operating system.
I reported the problems to the seller immediately, and he is willing to return it.
If you're eligible for a return or refund, go ahead!
It's the Gold version. Purchased in 2023. It worked well with the RTX 3060 even under heavy use. I swapped it for the Dark Power 14 1000W last week.
Currently running on F13 (March 2025). Will test with the newest F16.
No, I didn't.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Motherboard: ASUS ProArt X870E-CREATOR WIFI
Power Supply: be quiet! Straight Power 12 Platinum 1000W
Right now I don’t have additional specs, but those are the key details. Let me know if you need more.
It seems new and in good condition. The fans still have their protective film. On the back there’s a factory seal sticker on one of the screws.
I’ll try a different operating system soon and update the BIOS to F16. I’ll keep you updated.
Updated the bios and tested it. If problems persist, let me know. I could recommend getting a new 9070xt instead, as they remain fairly affordable.
Installed Windows 11 on a different drive.
Began using FurMark 2; after a short time the test froze, the system slowed down and became unresponsive, eventually restarting automatically due to issues. I captured a photo when it froze.
Updated the BIOS to F16, re-ran the test which also froze (about 10-15 minutes).
Still haven’t checked the PCB yet.
It wasn't that difficult. We began a game but only for a short time. Probably needs more than that to activate it.
I've already spent a lot of time, money, and effort trying to fix it. I'm seriously considering returning it.
If you can return it, then do so.
The 4090 really needs a PSU with a bit more wattage than specified. The reason being is, the transient power spikes. They can far exceed the average usage, and often (even on decent PSUs) can trip over protections.
When you did the bios update, I presume you rest CMOS then? If so, how exactly did you do that? If not, you must do that each time you update or rollback a bios.
Purchasing a second hand unit is a no-no for me. Not for GPU. You just don't know how hard it's been pushed, or if indeed the seller was aware it was faulty.