MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Catches Fire During First Use, Warranty Void Reported

• February 11, 2026

In a rare and alarming incident, a high-end MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming Trio graphics card reportedly caught fire during the first time it was powered on. The footage, shared on the Chinese social media platform Bilibili, shows the flagship graphics card producing flames shortly after the PC activation.

Fire Incident During Initial Startup

The user documented the unexpected ignition event, which directly involved the top-tier GPU from MSI’s latest line. This dramatic occurrence raises significant concerns about hardware safety and quality control, especially given the premium status and expected reliability of such a component.

According to reports surrounding the video, the owner of the affected graphics card was informed that the incident is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. The exact reasons for the warranty denial have not been publicly detailed, but the absence of warranty coverage means the user might face substantial costs to repair or replace the product.

The RTX 5090 series represents NVIDIA’s newest generation of graphics cards, known for high performance and considerable power consumption. While failures in high-end components are uncommon, this event underscores the potential risks in hardware handling or manufacturing flaws.

At this time, MSI or NVIDIA have not issued official comments addressing the incident. It remains unclear whether this fire was due to a defective card, improper installation, an external factor in the PC build, or other causes.

Instances like this prompt customers and enthusiasts to exercise caution with power-hungry components, ensuring proper power supply, cooling, and careful installation. For consumers, verifying warranty terms and conditions before purchase and understanding coverage limits are also crucial steps.

As the RTX 5090 cards continue rolling out to the market, monitoring for similar cases or official investigations will be important to gauge whether the issue is isolated or more widespread.

A user uploaded footage of an MSI GeForce RTX 5090 igniting during the initial PC startup, with no warranty support available.