NVIDIA Denies RMA for Founders Edition Cards Due to Unreadable Serial Numbers
NVIDIA has reportedly begun denying RMA requests for its Founders Edition graphics cards because the serial numbers on the devices can no longer be read. On these specific models, identification data is printed directly onto the slot bracket, and this text can become illegible over time.
The Issue and the RTX 5090 Case
As reported by Hardwareluxx, a recent case involving a GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition has highlighted this issue. The owner submitted the card for repair due to crashes under load. Despite possessing the original packaging and an invoice with the correct serial number, NVIDIA rejected the RMA claim because the physical serial number on the card's bracket was no longer readable. The customer was reportedly unaware of this potential issue until the claim was denied.
This is not an isolated incident, as several other cases involving similar denials for different models have been documented. This issue also complicates the secondary market, making it harder for resellers to verify the authenticity of a card or match it with its documentation.
Technical Context of the Labeling
While most board partners use durable stickers to display serial numbers, NVIDIA often uses direct printing on the metal bracket for its reference designs. Although the serial number can be retrieved via software using the NVIDIA-SMI interface, this is only possible if the hardware remains functional. If the card suffers a critical failure, the physical bracket becomes the only way to verify the device's identity.
The exact reason why the printed text on Founders Edition cards fades or becomes unreadable remains unknown. For consumers, however, this creates a significant risk: a hardware failure could lead to a loss of warranty coverage if the physical markings are lost.
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