New RTX 4090 fakes hit the market with highly realistic replicas

High-quality replicas sold as 'repair projects»

GPU repair specialist Vik-On reported a new scam involving counterfeit RTX 4090 cards. Customers have been purchasing these boards for 30,000 rubles (approximately $350), believing they are faulty units intended for restoration. In reality, the cards contain dummy GPUs and counterfeit memory packages instead of functional silicon.

These counterfeits are carefully assembled to resemble actual boards. The manufacturers have replicated the RTX 4090 label, the GPU package, chip markings, and even the thermal compound surrounding the processor. The GPU is not merely glued to the board; it is soldered in place using BGA (Ball Grid Array) technology, giving it the appearance of a genuine factory-installed chip.

What is hidden under the markings

Upon inspection and component removal, several discrepancies were identified:

• GPU: The package was manufactured to imitate a real GPU, but it contains no usable silicon. The contact area under the package does not resemble that of a functional processor.
• Memory: Instead of the GDDR6X used in the original RTX 4090, the fakes contain GDDR6 modules. The markings are close enough to genuine Micron packages to mislead even repair specialists.
• PCB: There is a suspicion that the PCB design resembles an RTX 3090 Ti, though this has not been conclusively established.

According to Vik-On, these devices cannot be restored into working RTX 4090 cards. While the exact origin is unconfirmed, it is suspected that a factory in China may be manufacturing these counterfeits. Given that working RTX 4090 cards can sell for around 240,000 rubles (about $2,800), the $350 price tag for a