Gigabyte got their ass handed to them again as quality control revealed they have issues with PCB cracking on specifically the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 Gaming OC models. They've made a change to tackle the issue of PCB cracking near the PCIe locking mechanism, a problem highlighted by the Nvidia community. The new design increases the surface area around the PCIe locking tab, aiming to make the cards more durable and less prone to cracking—a concern that came to light with earlier versions of these GPUs.

The push for this update comes from a broader challenge that Gigabyte and other brands have faced: making PCBs durable enough to withstand the increasing size and weight of modern graphics card coolers. This issue has become more pronounced since the RTX 30 series, with the stress on PCBs growing significantly. Photos shared by users already show the improvements in the new PCB design, with a sturdier section around the PCIe locking tab, which had been a weak point in previous models. While it's still early to say how effective this new design will be in the long run, initial feedback looks promising, showing a marked improvement in durability.

This update is especially crucial considering the widespread concerns about PCB cracking, particularly with the RTX 4090 models, where numerous cases have led to the GPUs being unusable. This issue is particularly acute in pre-built systems, which might not be handled gently during shipping, highlighting the importance of Gigabyte's proactive approach.

The revised RTX 4090 and 4080 cards are now marked as v1.1, and all new RTX 4080 Super models come with this updated PCB. This move by Gigabyte not only reassures customers about the durability of their high-end graphics cards but might also encourage other manufacturers to follow suit and enhance the structural integrity of their own RTX 40 series cards.