Fake RTX 4090s Exposed: YouTuber Uncovers Shocking GPU Scam

A tech YouTuber in China recently received four RTX 4090 graphics cards for repair. What he discovered was alarming: only one of them was real. The other three were fake cards, modified from older RTX 3090 and 3080 models to look like the latest RTX 4090. Each card had been purchased for about $1,394 (10,000 yuan) from an overseas supplier. The tech account UNIKO’s Hardware called it a “new level of scam.”

Spotting the Fakes

Detecting fake GPUs isn't easy, especially when the scammers go as far as modifying laser engravings on the chips. However, the YouTuber pointed out a few key visual differences:

• QR code position. On real RTX 4090s, it's in the lower-left corner. On the fakes, it’s slightly off.
• Capacitor placement. RTX 30-series chips have a raised capacitor in the top-right corner, a feature missing on the 4090.
• Chip condition. One fake had poor-quality green substrate and a thin chip surface. Another had a damaged fake die labeled as “AD102.”

Only one of the four GPUs turned out to be a genuine RTX 4090. It had some faulty memory chips and capacitors, but after replacing two GDDR6X modules, the card was fully functional again.

What’s Next?

So far, no fake RTX 5090s have been spotted. But with demand for high-end GPUs rising, scams like this are likely to continue. Always buy from trusted sources and check the hardware carefully.