Bumpgate: Difference between revisions

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'''Bumpgate''' (also known as '''Nvidiagate''') was a scandal where [[Nvidia]] and ATI Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) made from 2005-2010 were prone to high failure rates because of a design flaw that caused cracked solder bumps under the die.<ref name=":0" />

Despite the name "Nvidiagate", this defect was widespread in the industry. It impacted many Nvidia GPUs (manufactured 2006-2010), but also affected ATI GPUs (2006-2008). Among retro console enthusiasts, the defect is best known to have caused the high failure rate of the ATI Xenos GPUs in [[Microsoft]]'s early [[Xbox]] 360 models<ref name=":3" /> (2005-May 2008) and the Nvidia-based RSX GPUs in [[Sony]]'s early [[PlayStation#PlayStation_3_Incidents|PlayStation 3]] models (2006-Fall 2008).<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=RIP Felix |first= |date=23 Dec 2022 |title=A PS3 Story: The Yellow Light of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za7WTNwAX0c |url-status=live |access-date=2 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> Retro computer enthusiasts may also know of the defect from certain models of Dell and [[HP Inc.|HP-Compaq]] laptops (2005-2010), as well as certain [[Apple]] Macbook Pros (May 2007-September 2008).<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=Affected Models |url=https://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001080616/http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |archive-date=1 Oct 2010 |access-date=7 Jun 2025 |website=The NVIDIA GPU Litigation}}</ref>

Despite the name "Nvidiagate", this defect was widespread in the industry. It impacted many Nvidia GPUs (manufactured 2006-2010), but also affected ATI GPUs (2006-2008). Among retro console enthusiasts, the defect is best known to have caused the high failure rate of the ATI Xenos GPUs in [[Microsoft]]'s early [[Xbox]] 360 models<ref name=":3" /> (2005-May 2008) and the Nvidia-based RSX GPUs in [[Sony]]'s early [[PlayStation#PlayStation_3_Incidents|PlayStation 3]] models (2006-Fall 2008).<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=RIP Felix |first= |date=23 Dec 2022 |title=A PS3 Story: The Yellow Light of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za7WTNwAX0c |url-status=live |access-date=2 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref>, Nintendo Wii consoles produced before 2008 are also affected by this issue but only if WiiConnect24 was active in standby mode, as this caused the Scarlet ARM CPU in the SoC to get hot therefore damaging the solder bumps when the fan is not on , Also Retro computer enthusiasts may also know of the defect from certain models of Dell and [[HP Inc.|HP-Compaq]] laptops (2005-2010), as well as certain [[Apple]] Macbook Pros (May 2007-September 2008).<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=Affected Models |url=https://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001080616/http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |archive-date=1 Oct 2010 |access-date=7 Jun 2025 |website=The NVIDIA GPU Litigation}}</ref>

==Background==

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 '''Bumpgate''' (also known as '''Nvidiagate''') was a scandal where [[Nvidia]] and ATI Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) made from 2005-2010 were prone to high failure rates because of a design flaw that caused cracked solder bumps under the die.<ref name=":0" />
-Despite the name "Nvidiagate", this defect was widespread in the industry. It impacted many Nvidia GPUs (manufactured 2006-2010), but also affected ATI GPUs (2006-2008). Among retro console enthusiasts, the defect is best known to have caused the high failure rate of the ATI Xenos GPUs in [[Microsoft]]'s early [[Xbox]] 360 models<ref name=":3" /> (2005-May 2008) and the Nvidia-based RSX GPUs in [[Sony]]'s early [[PlayStation#PlayStation_3_Incidents|PlayStation 3]] models (2006-Fall 2008).<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=RIP Felix |first= |date=23 Dec 2022 |title=A PS3 Story: The Yellow Light of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za7WTNwAX0c |url-status=live |access-date=2 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> Retro computer enthusiasts may also know of the defect from certain models of Dell and [[HP Inc.|HP-Compaq]] laptops (2005-2010), as well as certain [[Apple]] Macbook Pros (May 2007-September 2008).<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=Affected Models |url=https://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001080616/http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |archive-date=1 Oct 2010 |access-date=7 Jun 2025 |website=The NVIDIA GPU Litigation}}</ref>
+Despite the name "Nvidiagate", this defect was widespread in the industry. It impacted many Nvidia GPUs (manufactured 2006-2010), but also affected ATI GPUs (2006-2008). Among retro console enthusiasts, the defect is best known to have caused the high failure rate of the ATI Xenos GPUs in [[Microsoft]]'s early [[Xbox]] 360 models<ref name=":3" /> (2005-May 2008) and the Nvidia-based RSX GPUs in [[Sony]]'s early [[PlayStation#PlayStation_3_Incidents|PlayStation 3]] models (2006-Fall 2008).<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=RIP Felix |first= |date=23 Dec 2022 |title=A PS3 Story: The Yellow Light of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za7WTNwAX0c |url-status=live |access-date=2 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref>, Nintendo Wii consoles produced before 2008 are also affected by this issue but only if WiiConnect24 was active in standby mode, as this caused the Scarlet ARM CPU in the SoC to get hot therefore damaging the solder bumps when the fan is not on , Also  Retro computer enthusiasts may also know of the defect from certain models of Dell and [[HP Inc.|HP-Compaq]] laptops (2005-2010), as well as certain [[Apple]] Macbook Pros (May 2007-September 2008).<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=Affected Models |url=https://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001080616/http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/affectedmodels.html |archive-date=1 Oct 2010 |access-date=7 Jun 2025 |website=The NVIDIA GPU Litigation}}</ref>
 ==Background==