Introduction: Why Are RTX 5090 & 5090D Cards Bricking?
If you’ve just unboxed a beast like the RTX 5090 or its dual-die sibling, the 5090D, only to find it turns into a $2,000 paperweight—you’re not alone. Reports are piling up on Reddit, TechPowerUp forums, and GPU subreddits about RTX 5090 5090D bricked issues. Most users trace the problem back to BIOS bugs, unstable driver compatibility, or even faulty PCIe communication on certain motherboards.
But what’s the real culprit? Is it bad firmware, rushed drivers, or something deeper inside the PCIe lanes?
This article breaks down:
- Common causes of RTX 5090/5090D bricking
- Driver & BIOS compatibility tips
- PCIe communication bottlenecks
- How to unbrick your card (or avoid it entirely)
Let’s walk through the root issues and how to actually fix them.
Understanding the Hardware: 5090 vs 5090D
What Makes These GPUs Special?
The RTX 5090 is NVIDIA’s flagship for 2025—built on the Blackwell architecture with insane CUDA core counts, 24-32 GB GDDR7, and PCIe 5.0 support. The 5090D, meanwhile, uses a dual-GPU die setup connected via NVLink 2.5, which makes it incredibly powerful but also sensitive to hardware inconsistencies.
Why it matters:
That extra complexity means BIOS, firmware, and PCIe lanes need to be perfectly synced. If your system isn’t ready? Bricked card.
Common Causes Behind RTX 5090 5090D Bricked Issues
BIOS and Driver Conflicts
Many users are reporting that their cards worked fine until they updated their BIOS or installed new drivers—especially early-access or unsigned versions from mod forums. Others say booting into Windows 11 triggers the brick after a reboot. Ouch.
Known Problem Scenarios:
- ASUS Z890 boards running older BIOS firmware (pre-2404)
- MSI motherboards auto-disabling PCIe Gen5 under certain thermal loads
- Custom firmware flash gone wrong using NVFlash tools
- Conflicts with Resizable BAR settings during boot
Reddit user example:
“Flashed BIOS to support the 5090 on my AORUS Z890i. Rebooted and got no post, just Q-LED VGA light. Swapped to 4080, works fine. 5090D is dead.”
— u/NeonFlux13
What You Can Do:
- Roll back to a known working BIOS version
- Use official NVIDIA WHQL drivers only (especially v555.xx+)
- Disable PCIe Auto Negotiation in BIOS—force Gen 4 or Gen 3 for testing
PCIe Communication Breakdown
Here’s where things get nerdy—but it’s critical. RTX 5090 and 5090D cards are ultra-dependent on clean, low-latency PCIe 5.0 lanes. If the signal integrity is compromised (due to dirty power delivery, long riser cables, or faulty BIOS training), the GPU can “fail to handshake” with the system.
PCIe Errors That Cause Bricking:
- Link Training Failure: BIOS fails to assign lanes, and card power cycles endlessly.
- Address Decode Errors: Especially with dual-die 5090D, where each die communicates across different addresses.
- ECN/MCU Conflicts: Reported in Gigabyte Vision D boards with RGB controllers interfering with PCIe root bridges.
Fix Tips:
- Try re-seating the card firmly, especially with riser cables.
- Turn off spread spectrum and ASPM in BIOS.
- Use separate PCIe power cables, not split ones.
Is It Really “Bricked”? A Checklist Before Panicking
Before sending your RTX 5090 or 5090D back to NVIDIA or your retailer, run through this basic sanity checklist:
| Step | Description | Tools Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check VGA debug LED | Visual |
| 2 | Try on another motherboard | Spare system |
| 3 | Flash BIOS back to stable version | USB drive, BIOS flashback |
| 4 | Use display output from iGPU | Monitor, cable |
| 5 | Power cycle PSU & CMOS clear | Screwdriver, jumper |
Pro Tip:
Sometimes a “bricked” card isn’t really dead—it just fails to initialize due to BIOS PCIe conflicts. Booting without the card, resetting CMOS, and re-seating it after POST can help.
How to Unbrick the RTX 5090 or 5090D (If You Can)
If your card isn’t posting, but fans spin, you might be able to recover it with these techniques.
NVFlash Recovery Mode:
- Use
nvflash64 --protectoffto disable write-protection. - Flash a known-good vBIOS (download from TechPowerUp GPU database).
- Use dual BIOS switch (if available) to swap to backup ROM.
PCIe Debug Card Method:
Advanced users can use a PCIe POST card to read hexadecimal debug codes, helping you identify if the issue lies with GPU, BIOS, or motherboard.
Compatible Motherboards and BIOS Recommendations
Not all systems are ready for RTX 5090 or 5090D out of the box. Here’s a quick list based on user reports and Reddit threads:
| Motherboard | BIOS Version | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ASUS Z890 Hero | 2406 | ✅ Stable |
| MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk | E7D91IMS.160 | ⚠️ Needs Gen4 lock |
| Gigabyte Vision D | F7c | ❌ Causes bricking |
| ASRock Taichi Carrara | 2.04.AS05 | ✅ Great dual-die support |
Note: Always disable memory context restore and enable Above 4G Decoding when running these cards.
Community Feedback on RTX 5090 5090D Bricked Issues
The forums are buzzing. From Discord channels to TechPowerUp, enthusiasts are trading tips and theories. The prevailing opinion? NVIDIA’s early batch firmware and board partner vBIOS weren’t fully stress-tested.
What Reddit and Techpowerup Users Are Saying
- u/MaxClocked: “5090D is a monster, but I had to downgrade BIOS to get PCIe x16 stable. Gen5 training kept crashing.”
- Techpowerup Mod: “The dual-die nature of 5090D makes it sensitive to PCIe link flapping. Some boards just can’t handle it unless trained manually in BIOS.”
- u/DeadCardReviver: “Used NVFlash blind mode with USB boot. Took 3 hours, but I recovered my 5090D. NEVER updating firmware again.”
Prevention Tips: How to Avoid Bricking Your 5090 or 5090D
Top 7 Safety Tips:
- Don’t flash firmware unless absolutely necessary
- Use high-quality, dedicated power lines for the GPU
- Avoid extreme undervolting on new drivers
- Run diagnostic tools like GPU-Z to monitor PCIe lane width
- Lock PCIe Gen to 4.0 during BIOS setup
- Update motherboard BIOS before installing the card
- Stay connected to GPU communities—Reddit, TPU, and Overclock.net
Expert Insight: Why PCIe 5.0 is a Double-Edged Sword
PCIe 5.0 delivers blazing-fast throughput—but that speed comes at a cost: sensitivity to noise, BIOS training, and hardware variation. With RTX 5090D needing perfect synchronization across two GPU dies and the CPU, even tiny latency spikes can throw everything off.
In simpler terms:
The faster the bus, the easier it is to mess it up.
Conclusion: Don’t Let RTX 5090 5090D Bricked Issues Ruin Your Build
If you’ve been hit by RTX 5090 5090D bricked issues, it doesn’t always mean game over. Most of the time, it’s BIOS or PCIe link training going sideways—not hardware failure. With the right precautions, tools, and community support, your GPU can be revived—or better yet, protected from harm in the first place.
Always test methodically, update carefully, and stay tuned into what fellow enthusiasts are seeing.
Read More :-
FAQ: RTX 5090 & 5090D Bricked Troubleshooting
1.Can I recover a bricked RTX 5090 at home?
Yes, with tools like NVFlash and dual BIOS switches, many users have recovered bricked cards. But success depends on the exact cause (firmware vs PCIe fault).
2.Will a BIOS update fix the bricking issue?
Often, yes—especially if the update improves PCIe Gen5 compatibility or address decoding. Always read the changelog.
3.Are 5090D cards more likely to brick than 5090?
Yes. Dual-die setups introduce more points of failure, especially with PCIe training and VRM syncing.
4.What’s the safest driver version for now?
Stick with NVIDIA’s 555.xx WHQL or newer. Avoid early betas or modded firmware unless you’re experienced.
5.Should I return my card or try to fix it?
Try every non-invasive fix first. If nothing works and you’re within warranty, RMA is the safest route.
