A Reddit user identified as u/_CurrentlyPooping_ reported that while playing the newly released game Black Flag Resynchronized, his ZOTAC RTX 5090 Solid GPU emitted a loud pop and crackling sound, followed by smoke within five minutes of use. He said he had installed the latest drivers before gaming. The user inspected the 16‑pin power connector and found it undamaged, though a burn mark was visible on a small gold finger tail near the MLCC array, according to comments by @unikoshardware. He attributed the incident to a possible short circuit caused by a crack in the circuit board, which some commenters suggested could result from the card’s weight causing sag. The exact cause remains undetermined, and the user will need to file an RMA to obtain a replacement.