These cracks are attributed to a design flaw near the PCIe slot, resulting in ruptures within the circuit board. Although primarily observed in the RTX 30 series, incidents of PCB tearing have also been reported in the RTX 40 lineup.

Prominent YouTubers Louis Rossmann and JayzTwoCents have raised concerns about a prevalent issue with Gigabyte RTX 30 and RTX 40 GPUs—PCB cracks. Such cracks can lead to power supply disruption, rendering the GPU unable to transfer data and effectively useless. Unfortunately, this damage is not covered under warranty, leaving users with broken video cards. However, the tech-repair community has shared a repair manual on repair.wiki to address these issues, although success rates are relatively low. Caution is advised when attempting repairs, as horizontal use of the GPUs may no longer be safe. Astonishingly, even minor impacts can cause the circuit board to rupture. Numerous Gigabyte GPUs with this defect have surfaced on online platforms like eBay. Reports from various users have substantiated the presence of physical damage in Gigabyte graphics cards, all indicating a design flaw leading to cracks in the same area near the PCI interface. Once the PCB cracks, the PCIe lanes are irreparably damaged, rendering the graphics card incapable of transferring data.

While we see some chatter from  Gigabyte's marketing staff in their damage control modus operandus Gigabyte has failed to address the issue adequately, forcing affected gamers to seek alternative solutions. Many damaged cards with red arrow stickers applied by Gigabyte after RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) claims have appeared on eBay. Unfortunately, the warranty does not cover these physical damages, leaving users with broken cards that will not be repaired.

Gigabyte RTX 30 and RTX 40 GPUs Vulnerable to PCB Cracks