My brand-new RTX 5080 suddenly caused my computer to power off during a gaming session. Since then, attempting to start the PC with the card installed makes the entire system shut down almost immediately, apparently triggering the power supply's short-circuit protection before Windows can boot. I removed the graphics card and disconnected the other components for testing, and the computer starts normally and runs Windows without any stability problems. What should I check before concluding that the GPU has failed, and is an RMA the appropriate next step?
3 Answers
Before sending it back, inspect the motherboard’s PCIe slot and the card’s connector for debris, burn marks, or obvious damage. If the motherboard has another full-length PCIe slot, you could try that as a basic cross-check, but don’t keep testing if the system immediately trips protection. A known-good GPU in the original slot would also help rule out motherboard damage if one is available.
If the system works normally with the card removed and immediately trips protection whenever the RTX 5080 is installed, the GPU is very likely defective. Stop repeatedly powering it on and arrange a warranty replacement or RMA. That is exactly what the warranty process is for.
Agreed. A sudden failure followed by an instant protection shutdown points to a serious hardware fault rather than a Windows or driver issue.
The NZXT C1500 Platinum has more than enough capacity for this setup, so insufficient wattage is unlikely to be the cause. Make sure the GPU power connector is fully seated and that the correct dedicated cable is being used, but an instant shutdown with the card installed still strongly suggests a short or failed component on the GPU itself.
You don’t need to own several spare graphics cards for this. The slot inspection is worthwhile, but the warranty return is still the sensible route if the card alone causes the shutdown.