Nvidia denies RTX 5090 warranty claims over faded serial numbers

Nvidia is reportedly rejecting warranty claims on RTX 5090 cards because the serial number stickers are fading or peeling off on their own, according to Tom's Hardware. Multiple owners say their cards developed issues within months of purchase, but when they tried to RMA, Nvidia refused service because the serial number was illegible.

The RTX 5090 sells for $6,500+ at retail. One owner posted photos showing a sticker that had clearly degraded from normal use and heat exposure — not tampering. Nvidia's position appears to be that an unreadable serial number voids the warranty, even if the degradation happened naturally. The company hasn't publicly commented on whether this is policy or case-by-case, and it's unclear how many units are affected.

This is a bad look for a flagship product. If the sticker can't survive a few months of standard operation, Nvidia needs to either improve the adhesive or accept other proof of purchase. Right now, owners are left with no recourse if the label fails before the hardware does.

If you're running an RTX 5090, photograph your serial number now and keep your receipt handy. Check BetterFPS's GPU section for alternatives if you're shopping for high-end cards and want to avoid this mess.