### Summary: RTX 5090 GPUs Ship with Fewer ROP Units, Potentially Impacting Performance #### Key Events: 1. **Discovery of Reduced ROP Units**: Reports have surfaced that certain RTX 5090 GPUs are shipping with fewer Render Output Units (ROPs) than advertised. The discrepancy was first noted by a reader at TechPowerUp (TPU) whose Zotac RTX 5090 Solid was found to have 168 ROPs instead of the expected 176. 2. **Performance Impact**: Testing by TPU revealed a performance drop of up to 11% in the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme benchmark compared to Nvidia's Founders Edition (FE) model and a comparative custom model from MSI. In games like Elden Ring, the performance loss was up to 8.5%, while in titles like Starfield and DOOM Eternal, the impact was less noticeable. 3. **Widespread Issue**: GPUs from multiple manufacturers, including MSI, Manli, Zotac, Gigabyte, and even Nvidia’s own FE model, have reported instances of reduced ROP counts. The issue is not universal, but it is becoming increasingly common as more reports emerge. 4. **Hardware Defect Hypothesis**: Hardware sleuth MEGAsizeGPU suggests that Nvidia has supplied Add-in-Board (AIB) partners with defective GB202 chips, which are the core components of the RTX 5090. This hypothesis is based on the rigorous testing and validation processes typically applied to GPUs, indicating that the issue is likely a hardware defect. 5. **China-Exclusive Model Affected**: The China-exclusive RTX 5090D, which uses the GB202 chip, is also affected by the reduced ROP count. 6. **Potential Causes and Solutions**: Given the widespread Blackwell chip shortage, it is speculated that Nvidia may have used slightly trimmed-down GB202 chips to meet demand. If the ROPs are hardware-disabled, the most viable solutions would be a recall or replacement of the affected units. A refund is not considered a practical solution due to the chip shortages. 7. **Official Response**: As of the latest reports, Zotac has not commented on the matter. TechPowerUp and other hardware enthusiasts have reached out to Nvidia for an official statement. #### Key People: - **MEGAsizeGPU**: A hardware sleuth known for obtaining inside information from board partners. - **Zotac**: A GPU manufacturer whose RTX 5090 Solid model was initially reported to have fewer ROPs. - **Nvidia**: The company that designed and produced the RTX 5090 GPUs. - **TechPowerUp (TPU)**: The publication that first reported the issue and conducted performance tests. - **Hassam Nasir**: A tech editor and writer with expertise in detailed CPU comparisons and hardware news. #### Key Locations: - **Global Market**: The issue has been reported across various RTX 5090 models available globally. - **China Market**: The RTX 5090D, a model exclusive to China, has also been affected by the reduced ROP count. #### Time Elements: - **Current Timeframe**: The issue has recently come to light, with reports and testing conducted in the present. - **Historical Context**: The situation is reminiscent of a similar issue Nvidia faced 10 years ago with the GTX 970 VRAM specs, which led to significant controversy and customer dissatisfaction. ### Detailed Abstract: Recent reports from the tech community have unveiled a significant issue with the RTX 5090 GPUs, where several models are shipping with fewer Render Output Units (ROPs) than advertised. The discrepancy was first noticed by a reader at TechPowerUp (TPU), who observed that their Zotac RTX 5090 Solid had 168 ROPs instead of the expected 176. This prompted TPU to investigate further, and the publication confirmed the same issue with its own sample, which also exhibited a reduced ROP count. ROPs, or Render Output Units, are crucial components of a GPU responsible for blending colors, performing anti-aliasing, and handling transactions between the framebuffer and the GPU's memory. Each top-level Graphics Processing Cluster (GPC) on the Blackwell architecture contains 16 ROPs, and the full GB202 chip is equipped with 12 GPCs, totaling 192 ROPs. However, the binned GB202 variant used in the RTX 5090 is designed to have 176 ROPs, as stated in Nvidia's white paper. The performance impact of this issue has been quantified through various benchmarks and game tests. TPU's testing showed a performance drop of up to 11% in the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme benchmark compared to Nvidia's Founders Edition (FE) model and a similar custom model from MSI. In games like Elden Ring, the performance loss was more pronounced at up to 8.5%, while in titles like Starfield and DOOM Eternal, the FPS loss was less noticeable but still present. Hardware sleuth MEGAsizeGPU has suggested that the issue stems from defective GB202 chips supplied by Nvidia to Add-in-Board (AIB) partners. This hypothesis is supported by the rigorous testing and validation processes typically applied to GPUs, which would catch software errors but might not detect hardware defects. The widespread Blackwell chip shortage is speculated to have led Nvidia to use slightly trimmed-down GB202 chips as a stopgap solution to meet high demand. However, this speculation remains unproven, and official confirmation from Nvidia is still pending. The issue is not limited to a single manufacturer or model. GPUs from MSI, Manli, Zotac, Gigabyte, and even Nvidia’s own FE model have reported instances of reduced ROP counts. The China-exclusive RTX 5090D, which uses the same GB202 chip, is also affected. This suggests that the problem may be systemic and could potentially impact all RTX 5090 models. If the reduced ROP count is indeed a hardware defect, there is little that can be done through software or BIOS updates. The most viable solutions would be a recall or replacement of the affected units. However, given the current chip shortages, a refund might not be a practical solution for customers who are already facing long wait times to secure an RTX 5090, with some retailers putting customers on hold for up to 14 weeks. The situation is reminiscent of a controversy Nvidia faced 10 years ago with the GTX 970, where the company was criticized for misleading VRAM specifications. This historical context adds to the current concerns, as customers reasonably expect their GPUs to conform to the advertised specifications. Zotac, one of the manufacturers whose RTX 5090 models have been reported to have fewer ROPs, has not yet commented on the matter. TechPowerUp and other hardware enthusiasts have reached out to Nvidia for an official statement, but as of now, the company has not provided a response. The tech community is eagerly awaiting an official explanation and potential resolution from Nvidia. ### Conclusion: The discovery of RTX 5090 GPUs with fewer ROPs than advertised has sparked significant concern among the tech community and potential customers. The issue, which affects multiple manufacturers and models, including the China-exclusive RTX 5090D, is likely a hardware defect rather than a software error. Given the performance impact and the historical context of similar issues, customers are justified in demanding a clear and transparent response from Nvidia. The most viable solutions, should the issue be confirmed, would be a recall or replacement of affected units. However, the current chip shortage complicates these potential solutions, making an official statement from Nvidia crucial for addressing customer concerns and ensuring trust in the product.