Asus ROG Strix RTX 4090 Counterfeit Found: Laser-Etched Fake Chips

A repair shop in the Pacific Northwest identified a counterfeit Asus ROG Strix RTX 4090 graphics card. Asus ROG Strix The unit displayed laser-etched markings that mimicked genuine components. The GPU core and VRAM chips were physically ground down to remove original surface details. The repair shop then re-etched the chips with fake information to pass visual inspection.

The forgery involved grinding the surface of the GPU and VRAM chips. Technicians used laser engraving to add new markings that replicated authentic parts. The process required precise physical alteration of the silicon components. This level of modification suggests an organized industrial operation rather than individual fraud.

The sophistication of the modification points to factory-level assembly. The scale of the operation implies coordinated effort to produce fake gaming GPUs. These counterfeit units likely underwent VRAM upgrades to support AI workloads. The modification process allowed the chips to function as higher-end models.

Northwest Repair identifies sophisticated factory-level GPU forgery

Northwest Repair identified this specific unit as the best fake they have encountered. The repair shop noted the high quality of the laser-etched markings. The operation demonstrates a significant risk of counterfeit hardware entering the market. Buyers should verify the authenticity of high-end graphics cards before purchase.

Source: tomshardware.com