99% Likely DOA 4090 (factory direct) approved for RMA, but I'd like to test it out on another system before sending it off. Suggestions to find a test bench? Every shop insists I drop it off (hell no). Also, how will ASUS replace a discontinued card with no real value comp? First time RMA'ing a GPU

[u/Diarrhea_Beaver]

TLDR: For the sake of making this as brief as possible without listing EVERY troubleshooting step, please trust I did all the reseating, cable swapping, BIOS updates, driver installs etc, and the system ultimately worked fine with two other cards. My questions pertain strictly to (1) testing options where I don't have to drop off the card unattended at the shop, as I'm not risking some of the horror stories I've heard even BEFORE gpus were eleventy billion dollars, and (2) if the answer is to just RMA it, what will they likely do to replace a card that has been long discontinued? First time RMA'ing a gpu, so any heads up would be appreciated.

Ultimately, I'm seeking advice on what lengths I should go to to find a test bench before RMA'ing it and having them send me back a card well below the value and power of the 4090. More details and partpicker list below for those with more questions

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/rbVvHW

I did a 4090 build for a friend in February, card was showing all signs of DOA after full troubleshooting. It powered up the lights, but the fans didn't start up, the Q-code read D6 (graphics card abnormal), and BIOS wouldn't recognize it, even after flashing. The old 580 I plugged in powered up and the fans ran with no error code, but it wasn't recognized by BIOS either, until I wiped and did another flash, and it worked fine. Went back to the 4090, no dice. Wiped and flashed, still nothing. Again, still nothing. It wouldn't fit in my old 580 rig, so trying another system entirely was the only stone left unturned, so I went ahead and got an RMA number.

Friend snagged a 5090 instead of waiting for the RMA to come back, and first try it powered up with no error code and fans ran, but like the 580, BIOS still couldn't find it. So I flashed AGAIN, and it was suddenly recognized and has been running like a dream ever since. I tried the 4090 one last time, but again, nothin doin. Friend told me to keep the 4090 as a thanks for the build. Due to life, I just now got around to getting a new RMA number, as the last one from Feb obviously expired.

QUESTION ONE: Now that I'm finally getting around to sending it off, I can't help but feel like there was something funky going on between that particular system/mobo and would love to try it on another system to see if it actually works, but I don't have a rig that can do that, and every single shop I called within a 30 minute radius (including Microcenter) won't even let me be present for the testing, much less let me use a test bench to see if it gets recognized.

Even small shops that I offered to pay full price for "testing and diagnostics" wouldn't let me simply be present when they plugged it in to make sure it wasn't getting messed with or swapped out. I'm guessing the answer is to just RMA it, but I figured I'd get input here first, as I've never RMA'd an insanely expensive, sought after card that has been discontinued for two years.

QUESTION TWO: Assuming the correct answer is to RMA it, what should I expect to receive as reimbursement if it is indeed a dead card? Customer service was reading boilerplate to me and would tell me literally nothing about the process or reimbursement short of the fact that they do not offer monetary refunds, and that the replacement will be a card that "they believe" to be equivalent to the 4090, but is well below the value and power of the card.

Sorry for the long post, but I tried to answer as many of the questions folks would ask instead of replying back and forth in the comments.

[u/MasterpieceClassic42]

If you are 99% sure it’s DOA then it’s much easier to follow through with the RMA

[u/Diarrhea_Beaver → u/MasterpieceClassic42]

Thanks! Any thoughts on how they'd replace a long discontinued card? I can pipe dream that a 90 series is worth a 90 series and it would be replaced with a 5090, but I hope they'd replace it with at least a 5080.

[u/308Enjoyer → u/Diarrhea_Beaver]

tbf I wouldn't be content even with a 5080 if I were you. 4090 is a much more powerful card.

[u/Diarrhea_Beaver → u/308Enjoyer]

According to others in the thread, they apparently give you a 5080 for an rma'd 4090, which I agree isn't really a fair trade, buuuuuut.....they DID announce a 24gb 5080 just today that should be out in the first quarter of 2027, so while Id still theoretically losing some power, at least its a 24gb card.

[u/Muted_Regular_204]

Where are you located? If you’re in SF Bay Area, Central Computers allows you to do walk ins for GPU testing for around $30-60 and it literally happens at the back of the shop where you can be present. I’ve done this for GPUs I’ve purchased from Marketplace with seller and buyer present. Central Computers is only available in SF Bay Area, CA though. I don’t know what exists for other states.

[u/Diarrhea_Beaver → u/Muted_Regular_204]

Sadly Im in philly and every shop was acting like I'm crazy to ask to be present. Im not just plopping that in your fucking shop and walking off, haha

But what you're talking about is exactly what I was accustomed to in smaller shops pre covid. A spot with a bench you kick a fee to use for a buyer seller meet.

Ill call further out and try to find a place in the burbs. Worth the drive to test it out. Thanks!

[u/Muted_Regular_204 → u/Diarrhea_Beaver]

In terms of your reimbursement question, I believe they’re going to offer a credit refund for the amount you paid as Asus credit. Likely the exact purchase price of the card when you first acquired it, not the current market value to replace and buy the card now, or will offer you various models of 5080 cards to choose from.

That’s just what I remember from what I read from another Redditor who had their Gigabyte 4090 RMA’ed.

I’ll share the link if I can find it again.

[u/2TheMountaintop]

You should be able to arrange for an appointment with a shop. Most small shops would be open to that.

[u/Diarrhea_Beaver → u/2TheMountaintop]

I thought so, that's the way it's always been, but literally calling around to EVERY shop in Philly got me pretty much laughed at across the board.

Im honestly thinking that these shops are just in predator mode and are welcoming in any high end GPU for you to "drop off," which they can use for a crazy aftermarket turnaround as "lost."

Rittenhouse in Philly is the most bougie part of town, and that dude scoffed at me that "people drop off expensive equipment all the time, trust me, its safe."

"Then why can't I just be there when you hook it up to the test bench?"

"That's not our policy. Don't know what to tell you"

You're dealing with a card that by receipt is $1800 and currently has a market value of an EASY 3k+, and you won't let me sit in the room to make sure you don't gut it?

That shit might work in Rittenhouse with meemaws and grannys that drop shit off, but I'm coming from West Philly. I sure as hell ain't your fucking sucker.

Really though, why wouldn't you let someone sit in whiles you plug the card in. Fucking scumbags. Fuck it, Ill name and shame the ones who chuckled at me, as if paying to use a test bench was some antiquated concept.

Eazy Computer Rittenhouse PRP Computer repair University City

Ill keep calling further outside of the city. I have hope that someone runs a decent shop these days

Thanks for the reply!

[u/Accomplished_Emu_658]

Have you called microcenter theres one just outside philly.

Also its had to claim doa from a card in february, got to act sooned on this stuff