Recently, a GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card user shared on a forum that Nvidia had rejected their warranty claim. The reason given was that the serial number on the graphics card's metal backplate had faded and become illegible. The user explained that the graphics card suffered from black screen crashes during high-intensity tasks. When they sent it in for repair, Nvidia denied warranty service due to the unreadable serial number, even though the user provided the original packaging and invoice.

This incident has sparked widespread discussion among hardware enthusiasts and the gaming community, with a particular focus on the product identification design of RTX 50 series graphics cards. Reports indicate that faded serial numbers are not an isolated issue; multiple users have encountered similar problems. Over time, the metal backplate of the graphics card can accumulate dust, undergo oxidation, and suffer corrosion, all of which contribute to the fading of the serial number engraving.

Some users have suggested, in Nvidia's Discord channel, cleaning the area with isopropyl alcohol to make the serial number visible again. However, this method may prove ineffective if the ink has completely worn off. It's worth noting that the same serial number is also prominently displayed on the sticker of the graphics card's modular PCIe power connector. Technicians can verify this number during disassembly, and if the graphics card is still functional, the serial number can also be retrieved via the command line.

Currently, Nvidia's specific warranty policy remains ambiguous, and it's unclear whether cases are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.