Serial numbers on RTX Founders Edition graphics cards, including PC Gamer's very own, are fading and apparently it's causing a problem with RMA requests

As GPUs continue to increase in price, it also, of course, becomes increasingly important to feel that those purchases are secure from leaving you with a very expensive paperweight. This is doubly so for the RTX 5090, which now costs upwards of $5,000. Given this, it's important that RMAs go smoothly, but judging by recent comments online, the design of the Nvidia GPUs themselves could throw a spanner in the works.

According to Redditor Willing-Avocado-4830, they recently struggled with Nvidia's RMA process for their RTX 5090 FE because of a faded serial number. They claim the RMA request was rejected. The Nvidia rep's quoted comments seem to have since been deleted or are just not visible for some reason, but the thing to highlight here is the fading itself.

If it were a lone issue, then it might not be as noteworthy, but others in the comments confirm that the serial number on their FE card has also faded—and not only RTX 5090 ones. And indeed, the serial number on our very own RTX 5080 FE, pictured above, appears to have faded somewhat. The number itself is located on the metal part of the I/O side that slots down between the case and the motherboard.

It's probably worth noting that the amount of fading on our version here at PC Gamer might be different to the home user's. We tend to swap between GPUs quite a lot for testing, which could cause more fading for us. Or, if the fading is caused by consistent heat, then it could be that the normal home use would result in more fading. Your guess is as good as mine on that front.

Details

Serial numbers are traditionally found on stickers on the GPU, but some newer RTX FE cards have them put directly on the bottom jut of the PCIe bracket, and they seem to be prone to fading. Presumably the reason this might cause a problem with the RMA process because Nvidia will need to verify authenticity and ensure it's within warranty. And unless there's another sticker elsewhere with it on (on the PCB, for instance, or on the packaging if you still have it), that serial number can be important.

Nvidia's warranty (in its US wording) explains: "This warranty applies only to the original purchases of the Warranted Products from a retailer, mail order operation, or on-line retail store; this warranty will not extend to any person that acquires a Warranted Product on a used basis."

As such, it will be important for Nvidia to verify that the product is, in fact, from an original purchaser.

Looking at what is publicly available from Nvidia about its RMA process, however, it is not clear whether a serial number is required. It's also worth noting that laws surrounding RMAs can vary from country to country.

Whatever the case, if you have a still-legible serial number on your RTX FE card, it might be worth snapping a pic of it, just in case. Though I suppose it's an open question whether that would satisfy Nvidia's requirements if it's faded off the card by the time they receive it for RMA. If not, then surely there must be a better way for Nvidia to plaster those serial numbers on there.