⚙️ AI Hardware

eBay Seller's $4K RTX 5090 Horror: Returned Card Gutted of GPU Die and Memory

Picture this: you ship a pristine $4,000 RTX 5090, it comes back 'working,' but yank off the cooler and—poof—core and memory gone. Classic scam, veteran style.

Aisha Patel Mar 20, 2026 3 min read 6 views
Disassembled Zotac RTX 5090 GPU with missing core die and memory modules exposed on PCB

⚡ Key Takeaways

  • Scammers desolder RTX 5090 GPU dies and memory for AI server resale, returning empty shells via eBay.
  • Red flags include stripped screws, worn PCIe contacts, and no POST despite looking sealed.
  • Buy high-end GPUs in-person from trusted sources to avoid fraud amid AI-driven shortages.
Aisha Patel
Written by

Aisha Patel

Former ML engineer turned writer. Covers computer vision and robotics with a practitioner perspective.

#AI server parts #GPU fraud #RTX 5090 scam #eBay returns

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Originally reported by Tom's Hardware - AI

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