{
  "id": 13693049,
  "title": "New NVIDIA RTX 4090 Fakes Look Almost As Good As The Real Thing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/new-nvidia-rtx-4090-fakes-look-almost-as-good-as-the-real-thing",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-11T09:34:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Lowyat.NET",
    "slug": "lowyat-net",
    "url": "https://www.lowyat.net/2026/406941/new-nvidia-rtx-4090-fakes-look-almost-as-good-as-the-real-thing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Russian GPU repair expert named Vik-Off has shown how convincing fake NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics cards have become, with some appearing almost indistinguishable from the genuine article. The expert acquired one such fake card from a customer who had paid 30,000 rubles (approximately RM1,440) for it, which is much lower than the typical price of a genuine RTX 4090.\n\nThe seller labeled the item as a \"repair project,\" a term used for GPUs that could potentially be restored to working condition with technical expertise. However, Vik-Off found it difficult to verify the authenticity of the card, as it was delivered to them in a bare-naked PCB form without any cooling solution. This made it challenging for the buyer to assess whether the card would actually function properly.\n\nVik-Off described the carefully crafted details of the counterfeit card, which closely mimicked the appearance of a genuine RTX 4090. The GPU core was soldered in place using a Ball Grid Array (BGA) method, rather than the more common glue-based attachment. Only after disassembling the card and closely examining its components did Vik-Off discover the true nature of the product. The color of the GPU substrate, surface reflections, and lettering were inconsistent with a legitimate RTX 4090. Furthermore, when they desoldered the GPU core, they found that the contact area did not match the specifications of a functional processor. The solder mask also showed signs of deterioration during the cleaning process, providing additional evidence that the card was not genuine.\n\nAdditionally, Vik-Off noticed that the VRAM surrounding the GPU core consisted of GDDR6 modules, whereas an RTX 4090 should come equipped with GDDR6X modules. Although the origin of these fake GPUs remains uncertain, Vik-Off suspects they may be produced in a factory in China. This particular counterfeit RTX 4090 could be tempting for modders and tinkerers due to its significantly lower price point of 280,000 rubles (approximately RM13,443), which is considerably less than the standard market value.",
  "summary": "A video by Russian GPU repair specialist Vik-Off recently posted a video of the lengths scammers have gone and are willing to go with fake GPUs, while also showing how scary good they are getting at passing off fake RTX 4090 GPUs as the real deal. Step One: Making Verification Difficult One of the fake […] The post New NVIDIA RTX 4090 Fakes Look Almost As Good As The Real Thing appeared first on…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}