My GPU 780Ti suddenly caught fire (smoke and sparkles)

varzock

n00b
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Apr 27, 2011
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So I was casually playing Fallout 4 for maybe 1 hour when my computer suddenly shut down. It seemed it wasn't powering up properly anymore so I restarted it.

Suddenly smoke starts coming out around the GPU area, then I see sparkles and small flame rising out of my case. It started to smell quite horrible (kinda electric smell).

I quickly plug my computer out and start to examine damages. Long story short my computer is now running well without the GPU and the GPU itself has clear damages on the back plate (see below).

SYSaSmP.jpg


What could have caused this? Was I just having bad luck? Unfortunately I wasn't able to check any temps on CPU or GPU. The whole system is 95% dust free.

Neither the CPU nor the GPU are overclocked, not one bit.

Specs:
2500K
Gigabyte M3 Sniper
Corsair Ballistix Sport DDR3L 4 x 4Gb
3 x SSD (250Gb + 512Gb + 512Gb)
Silverstone FT05 + AP182 (white)
Thermalright Macho Rev. B
MSI 780Ti
 
That capacitor just exploded.

It happens :\
Yup. Unfortunately spontaneous combustion is a risk that is taken when using ceramic capacitors to save space. There is nothing we as users can do about it.
 
So I was casually playing Fallout 4 for maybe 1 hour when my computer suddenly shut down. It seemed it wasn't powering up properly anymore so I restarted it.

Suddenly smoke starts coming out around the GPU area, then I see sparkles and small flame rising out of my case. It started to smell quite horrible (kinda electric smell).

I quickly plug my computer out and start to examine damages. Long story short my computer is now running well without the GPU and the GPU itself has clear damages on the back plate (see below).

SYSaSmP.jpg


What could have caused this? Was I just having bad luck? Unfortunately I wasn't able to check any temps on CPU or GPU. The whole system is 95% dust free.

Neither the CPU nor the GPU are overclocked, not one bit.

Specs:
2500K
Gigabyte M3 Sniper
Corsair Ballistix Sport DDR3L 4 x 4Gb
3 x SSD (250Gb + 512Gb + 512Gb)
Silverstone FT05 + AP182 (white)
Thermalright Macho Rev. B
MSI 780Ti
Check with MSI about a warranty. Also see if you can find an official MSI rep who might be able to help if the warranty has expired.
 
As far as I know the minimum warranty period for new GPU's in the United States is 3 years. The 780Ti came out on 11/7/13, and his warranty would have even more time on it unless he bought on launch day. It is not November the 7th yet by a large margin, he can either use this as an excuse to upgrade and RMA the 780Ti to MSI as a backup or physx card or just RMA it and use it like it has been when he gets the replacement in. I'm sorry your GPU died, OP but it's fortunate that this happened now instead of after November the 7th or whenever you bought the card + 3 years.
 
I had a MSI 6970 that had the same thing happen to it. My RMA experience was great; They sent me a 7970 Lightning in return.
 
My XFX 7900 GS XXX blew up spectacularly twice. Finally XFX sent me an 8600 GTS.

It happens.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
this happened to my MSI GTX780. Did and RMA and got a refurb replacement in about a week.
 
Nice!

Soldering that isn't so hard if you have a steady hand, fine solder and a fine iron..
 
That's nice, makes me want to buy MSI. I had this problem with a Club3D Radeon 280x in the first week I owned it, component failures happen sometimes.

P.S. Fast responses do happen sometimes, It turns out I do live next door to a Dell laptop repair facility so any time I have a problem with my Dell laptop it arrives in 1 day and I receive it in 1 day.
 
Same thing happened to my USB 3.0 PCIE card (luckily the ebay seller sent me two of them for price of one). I think he/she probably knew that one will die.

Yeah, MSI is a nice company.
 
haha that was quick, do you live next door to MSI?

I work at retail company and I was able to bring my card to our RMA service staff.

I forgot to mention they replaced it with MSI Twin Frozr 980 because 780 wasn't available anymore so I am more than happy with the outcome.
 
I work at retail company and I was able to bring my card to our RMA service staff.

I forgot to mention they replaced it with MSI Twin Frozr 980 because 780 wasn't available anymore so I am more than happy with the outcome.
I'd be pretty pleased as well. Prolly quietens the GPU upgrade bug for a while.
 
I hear MSI cards are most prone to "blowing up"....

That sucks, I'd def RMA if you can??
 
Same thing happened to my MSI 780 a while back. MSI made some really bad bad 780/780ti.
 
Would any company cover damages to other parts of the PC had the GPU fried your system?
 
Would any company cover damages to other parts of the PC had the GPU fried your system?

If you raise enough hell, speak in a mature manner, and talk to the right people....

I'd certainly hope so.
 
That is damn difficult with the size of the caps and the need to find exact matches. If I see a surface-mount component like that pop, its a new board in my mind.

Could find a dead one being sold for parts and move the cap over on the boards.
 
i have a msi 270x still under warranty the fans are going on it and it is artifacting... I wonder what i'll get back...
 
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