A graphics card failure in a high-performance RTX 4090 almost caused a house fire in Norway last week. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about power supply units overheating in high-end gaming PCs.
The owner of the computer detected smoke coming from a melted power connector near the graphics card. The PCIe slot showed visible burn marks, though the system remained powered on. Neighbors reported smelling burning plastic before the owner could disconnect the PC.
The cat’s presence played a key role. It reacted visibly when the burning started, drawing attention to the issue before the situation escalated. The owner acted quickly, unplugging the system and ventilating the room. Firefighters later confirmed the risk of a full electrical fire had been high.
This follows multiple reports of RTX 4090 users experiencing power-related failures. Some cases involved damaged motherboards and scorched cases. Nvidia has not issued an official statement regarding a potential hardware flaw.
The owner plans to replace the power supply and graphics card. The incident serves as a reminder to monitor high-load systems closely.
Source: itavisen.no