RTX 5090 Owner's Warranty Denied by PNY Over Power Cable Choice; Policy Not Found in Paperwork
A Reddit user reports that PNY denied a warranty claim for an RTX 5090 that suffered a 12VHPWR connector failure while idle. PNY stated that only its included cable or adapter is covered, but the user found no such clause in the warranty documentation. The owner had used the native cable from an ASRock ATX 3.1 power supply.
The disputed RTX 5090 failure occurred while the card sat idle, with the owner running a stock VBIOS and a power limit below factory defaults. The power supply involved was an ASRock PG-1600G, an ATX 3.1 unit whose native 12VHPWR cable connected directly to the GPU without adapters or splitters. PNY's warranty documentation, revision dated February 28, 2025, reportedly contains no language restricting cable or adapter choices, and the included installation guide references only legacy 6-pin and 8-pin connectors. After the owner questioned the denial, a PNY senior technician reaffirmed the decision as final and closed the ticket. The Reddit community has largely sided with the consumer, with some suggesting escalation to PNY management.
This case could signal a shift in how graphics card manufacturers handle connector-related failures, potentially leaving consumers caught between GPU and PSU vendors when hardware fails. If such policies become common without explicit documentation, buyers may face unexpected out-of-pocket costs for high-value components, undermining confidence in warranty protections. The outcome could also pressure manufacturers to clarify their terms or prompt regulators to scrutinize warranty practices, affecting both individual builders and the broader DIY PC market.