In a shocking incident during the Battlefield 6 open beta, a Taiwanese gamer’s ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5090 burst into flames mid-gameplay. On August 10, the user reported sudden screen freezing followed by visible fire and burning smells near the PCIe slot – a dramatic failure captured in photos showing scorched components and melted water-cooling tubing.
Key Details of the Incident
- Trigger: Screen froze during intense combat in BF6 beta
- Damage: 10-second fire blackened GPU, motherboard area, and cooling tubes
- System Context: Prebuilt PC (simplifies warranty claims)
- Response: System returned to retailer; ZOTAC investigating
Why This Isn’t a Repeat of RTX 4090 Issues
Unlike the widespread 4090 power connector failures:
- No 16-Pin Involvement: Damage centered near PCIe slot, not power cables
- ZOTAC’s “Safety Light”: Feature showed no connection issues pre-failure
- Isolated Case: Zero other RTX 5090 fire reports globally
| Aspect | RTX 4090 Meltdowns | RTX 5090 Fire Incident |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | 16-pin connector flaws | Suspected component failure |
| Failure Location | Power cable interface | PCIe slot/motherboard area |
| Scale | Hundreds of cases | Single confirmed report |
What Gamers Should Know
- Extreme Rarity: Modern GPU combustions are exceptionally uncommon
- Prebuilt Advantage: Warranty coverage easier vs. custom builds
- Monitoring Tip: Watch for sudden artifacts/freezes during high-load scenes
- No Mass Panic: No evidence of design flaw – likely manufacturing defect
Industry Context
- RTX 5090 Power Draw: Flagship’s 500W+ TDP stresses components
- ZOTAC’s Response: Investigation ongoing; emphasizes isolated case
- Gamer Reactions: Dark humor about “Battlefield Levolution realism” trending
Also, Read
- Gamer’s AIO Cooler Fails Dramatically During Gameplay – Burning Smell, 105°C Temps
- After RTX 4090 Melts, Gamer Gets Shocking Upgrade Offer – “5080 + $300 Refund
- GTX 1080 Ti’s Secret Stowaway – Factory Screw Left Crushing My GPU PCB
The Bottom Line
While terrifying for the owner, this appears to be a freak hardware failure – not a new crisis for NVIDIA’s 50-series. As ZOTAC analyzes the damaged unit, gamers should stay calm but vigilant: ensure proper cooling, avoid daisy-chaining power cables, and monitor system stability during demanding titles like Battlefield 6.
Source: york4517/GamerTW