ASUS Rejects RMA Claim on RTX 5090 Astral Citing “Surface Irregularity”, Requests USD 3,340 for Replacement
A contentious RMA case involving the ASUS ROG RTX 5090 Astral has surfaced online, sparking debate around consumer rights and GPU warranty practices. The situation was detailed by Reddit user u/kromz on the ASUS subreddit, where he explained that ASUS rejected his warranty claim after diagnosing what they described as a “surface irregularity” on the card’s PCB.
According to the user, the card began exhibiting severe instability, including black screens and system reboots, prompting him to file an RMA request. However, once ASUS inspected the GPU, the company reported a “crack” near the PCIe interface, only visible under microscopic analysis. The user claims this defect was not noticeable to the naked eye prior to shipping and maintains that the installation was performed properly, including the use of a support bracket to counter GPU sag.
ASUS classified the defect as consumer-induced damage, which voided the warranty. They further stated the GPU was not repairable, and instead offered a replacement at CAD 4,661 (approximately USD 3,340). As a form of compromise, ASUS proposed a 50% discount, still leaving the customer to pay roughly USD 1,700, which is alarmingly close to the MSRP of a brand new RTX 5090 Founders Edition.
The situation has drawn criticism across the PC hardware community. Many argue that while warranty exclusions for physical damage are standard, rejecting an RMA based on a microscopic flaw raises serious concerns. If a defect is invisible without magnification, it casts doubt on whether the cause is genuinely consumer negligence or an excessive level of scrutiny applied to avoid honoring warranty obligations.
Cases like this continue to spotlight a recurring pain point in the industry: opaque, inconsistent, and sometimes overly restrictive GPU RMA processes, especially with next-generation GPUs that carry record-high prices and increased physical stress due to their size and power requirements.
Have you ever faced an unexpected RMA rejection? Share your experience with us below.
