GeForce RTX 50 laptop models said to be missing ROPs like desktop counterparts

Even though Nvidia said only a 'small portion' of its Blackwell-based RTX 50 graphics cards are missing ROPs (Render Output Units), the problem may extend to beyond its desktop offerings. Heise.de and Hardwareluxx have both received reports of some laptop models that may have been affected.

Unlike their desktop counterparts, most of these defects should ideally be detected and rectified in the factory before they ship out. But, some could definitely slip through the cracks, and one can only hope Nvidia has a robust RMA plan in place for such incidences.

Exactly which models are affected remains unknown, but the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 seem like possible candidates because they use the same GB203 GPU found on the desktop RTX 5080 and 5070 Ti. Even if all ROPs are accounted for, the RTX 50 laptop SKUs have other problems to deal with. The recent earthquake in Taiwan has supposedly ruined as many as 20,000 wafers.

Exactly how many of these belong to Nvidia is unknown, but the recent non-availability of RTX 5070 cards and late launch of RTX 50 laptop SKUs suggest the company might have lost some inventory in the process. Plus, a DigiTimes report says the RTX 50 series has some performance and driver issues.