ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5090 Explodes 5 Minutes Into Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

Expert Verified By

The GPU blew up from the PCIe connector side!

Story Highlight
  • RTX 5090 blows up while playing Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.
  • The user heard a crackling noise and a loud pop.
  • The PCIe connector appears burnt on both the GPU and motherboard sides.

More than a year into the Blackwell GPU release, the high-end models are still suffering from design flaws. The latest victim is a Zotac RTX 5090 that lasted a whole year before eventually giving out to Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.

The GPU allegedly blew up on the PCIe connector side, according to the owner, and exploded just 5 minutes into the game.

Why it matters: The RTX 50-Series has several failure cases, including one model erupting in flames, but the RTX 5090 exploding is a first.

5090 blew up near PCIe connection
byu/_CurrentlyPooping_ inpcmasterrace

The user reports a “loud pop” and a “crackling” noise, followed by some smoke, when the GPU blew up. The system shut down, and the user hasn’t restarted his system since.

This case isn’t linked to the 12V-2×6 cable in any way, and as shown in the photos, residue from an explosion is visible on the GPU’s connector. Furthermore, the motherboard appears damaged, but it’s unclear whether it is.

assassins creed collage
The Assassin’s Creed Franchise Has Now Sold 250 Million Units

The Redditor also ruled out any cause of moving the PC; the PC case also had an anti-sag bracket. However, the anti-sag bracket only supported the rear end of the card, and considering how big and heavy the RTX 5090 is, many suspect it could have been cracked at the front end, since cracks on the board can cause explosions like this one.

Anyhow, the user mentioned his motherboard was experiencing USB-related issues, which could very well have caused the explosion. He plans to RMA or send it out for repair.

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Xbox CEO Currently Playing The Elder Scrolls 6; Praises Its Scale And Grandeur

The Elder Scrolls 6 continues to make progress behind closed doors, and it seems CEO Asha Sharma is now playing the game.

Shift Up Grew By 25% In Last 3 Months As Stellar Blade: Blood Rain Development Ramps Up

Shift Up confirmed in its recent Q2 2026 financial report that its headcount has risen by a staggering 24.5% in the last quarter alone.

Halo: Campaign Evolved Has Sold Just 1.2 Million Units So Far

A new report paints a dire picture for Halo: Campaign Evolved, suggesting that the series' first major remake hasn't been the biggest hit.

Indie Hit Meccha Chameleon Has Sold A Whopping 20 Million Units In Just 2 Months

Indie title Meccha Chameleon has been a huge breakout for the studio, earning 20 million sales in just 2 months since its June release.

Phantom Blade Zero Seems To Be Skipping Physical Release As Pre-orders Go Live

Phantom Blade Zero can now be pre-ordered ahead of its upcoming release, but the game seems to have skipped a physical disc launch.