Newbie overclocker destroys $5,000 RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU they used 'to learn how to solder' — practicing newfound hobby goes wrong in the most expensive way imaginable

A newbie overclocker apparently learned how to solder on their expensive RTX 5090 GPU and ended up damaging it while practicing their newfound skill. According to NorthridgeFix, which received the broken graphics card for repair, the unit came with this note: “I wanted to learn how to solder tiny 0402 resistors and was practicing on my GPU. I ended up ripping one of the pads and now the GPU will not post. If possible, I’d like to repair the pad/trace and re-align the resistors.” One possible reason for this mod is that the owner of the graphics card was trying to install the custom 2500W XOC BIOS, which MSI has limited to a select few elite overclockers, and requires physically modifying the card.

MSI released the RTX 5090 Lightning Z GPU at CES 2026 to great fanfare, with the GPU beating several world records even before it launched. These graphics cards use a specialized BIOS that unlocks their capabilities. The firmware was leaked online and posted by TechPowerUp, but the company requested that it be taken down. MSI didn’t just stop at limiting its spread, though — it turns out that the company made it impossible to flash its 2500W XOC BIOS to retail MSI GPUs. VideoCardz says that one workaround to this restriction is to add an extra resistor to the $5,000 GPU.

However, it seems that this mod is easier said than done, with the customer stating that they ended up ripping up one of the pads and misaligning the resistor during their botched operation. Alex, the host of the NorthridgeFix video, was incredulous when they found the damaged part, which was right next to the GPU core and connected directly to it. “The customer was trying to practice on the tightest spot on the board,” Alex, the host of the NorthridgeFix video, said. “Why go up the ladder one step at a time? Why not go a hundred steps at a time? That’s lot faster.”

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Even seasoned veterans in the overclocking industry can get carried away and destroy their expensive components in their quest to squeeze every drop of performance out of them. This means that beginners in the overclocking scene are much more likely to do damage to their parts. You also need a lot of cash to get into this passion, as manufacturers often reserve high-end overclocking for their most expensive components. Still, it seems that people who are passionate enough about this are willing to risk thousands of dollars, and even limited-edition models with only 1,300 units in the wild.

After an involved repair process, NorthridgeFix seems to have replaced the damaged parts, and everything seemed to be in order when it was run through the voltage tester. Unfortunately, we did not see the GPU turn on the video because they were only set up with a single 12VHPWR cable, whereas the GPU required two. They tried running it with their available cable, but the graphics card refused to power on, even though Alex is confident in his repair. As of now, we can only hold our breath and wait for an update from NorthridgeFix if it was successfully able to resurrect this limited-edition graphics card from the dead.

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