A Digital Storm Corsa gaming PC priced at $5,245 before tax reportedly developed melted power cabling about two weeks after its owner began using it in August 2026. The computer had been delivered in May 2025 and stored after initial testing. Its owner says he noticed a burning smell, then screen flicker and burned wiring. The failure’s cause has not been independently established, and PNY said it was reviewing the case after initially citing its cabling warranty terms.
What happened to the RTX 5090 PC?
Tom’s Hardware reported that Anthony DeMarco’s father bought a Digital Storm Corsa prebuilt containing a PNY GeForce RTX 5090 and a Digital Storm 1,000-watt semi-modular 80-Plus Gold power supply. The system arrived in May 2025. DeMarco reportedly tested it, packed it away, and began using it in August 2026 after starting a job. The account does not say that the connectors melted while the PC was boxed; the symptoms appeared after use began. Tom’s Hardware’s October 3, 2026 report is the source for the chronology and component details.
DeMarco told the outlet: “I noticed a strange burning smell from near my computer.” The next day, he noticed the monitor flickering, inspected the wiring, and found it “very melted and burned.” He said he powered the computer off immediately. The report describes damage to the GPU power cabling and severe melting at the power-supply end. It does not include an independent electrical inspection or test results.
Timeline of the reported warranty dispute
| Date | Reported event |
|---|---|
| May 2025 | The PC was delivered, according to Tom’s Hardware. |
| August 2026 | DeMarco reportedly began using it after it had been packed away following initial testing. |
| About two weeks later | He noticed a burning smell; the following day, he saw display flicker and damaged wiring, then shut down the system. |
| August 26, 2026 | A support ticket was submitted to Digital Storm under his father’s name, according to records reviewed by Tom’s Hardware. |
| August 31, 2026 | The ticket was closed after a phone call. The report says its summary referred to a faulty melted 12VHPWR cable, an attempt to seek an RMA from PNY, and coverage being far out of warranty. |
| September 8, 2026 | DeMarco reportedly contacted PNY to request an RMA and ask about repair service. PNY cited its position on cables. |
| September 16, 2026 | The owner reportedly filed a report at SaferProducts.gov. |
| October 3, 2026 | PNY told Tom’s Hardware it was reviewing the case and would engage with DeMarco directly. The report gives no final decision. |
Why Digital Storm and PNY cited different warranty issues
The dispute involves two separate coverage questions: the system builder’s coverage for the whole PC and the graphics-card maker’s terms for the GPU’s power connection. The reported warranty positions are not a legal ruling about which company must pay.
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Digital Storm: parts coverage versus labor
Tom’s Hardware says Digital Storm’s one-year parts coverage had expired, while the company offered three years of labor. The outlet also quoted Digital Storm warranty wording: “After the first year, Digital Storm will help replace any defective parts for the customer as long as those parts are still under warranty with the manufacture [sic].” The practical question is whether the relevant part remains covered by its manufacturer and what assistance the builder’s terms provide. DeMarco reportedly said Digital Storm declined further involvement because PNY denied his claim, but Tom’s Hardware said it had no corroborating record of that account. Digital Storm did not respond to the outlet’s request for comment.
PNY: the cable configuration
PNY’s support email said its 16-pin GPU input should use the PNY-approved cable or adapter included with the card for warranty coverage. The representative said damage involving a third-party cable, adapter, or PSU cable was the responsibility of that cable or power-supply maker. The report says DeMarco’s build used custom-sleeved upgraded PSU cables. That detail explains why the cable condition became part of the dispute, but it does not establish that those cables caused the damage.
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PNY’s published statement to Tom’s Hardware was less final than its initial support response: “We are presently reviewing this case and will be engaging the customer directly.” The outlet reported no final claim outcome. Tom’s Hardware describes PNY GeForce RTX gaming GPU coverage as three years; the full terms were not independently reviewed in the report. PNY’s three-year limited warranty PDF is available at this URL, but the article does not establish how every provision applies to this case.
What is known—and unknown—about the cause
The available account establishes reported melting and burning damage, the system’s listed components, and the owner’s use of custom-sleeved PSU cables. It does not establish a failure mechanism. There is no independent inspection, electrical measurement, or final warranty determination in the report. PNY’s statement about third-party cabling is its warranty position, not a technical finding that the cable caused this particular failure.
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Other owners have reported RTX 5090 power-connector incidents, but separate accounts cannot identify the cause here or show how common such failures are. A September 26, 2026 Tom’s Hardware report describes another owner’s claim involving melted ends of a PSU-native 12V-2×6 cable. A September 16, 2026 Digital Citizen report concerns another PNY RTX 5090 in a DigitalStorm prebuilt and likewise does not establish a technical cause. A separate February 2025 Tom’s Hardware account involved an RTX 5090 Founders Edition and a third-party cable; it is also anecdotal and does not resolve this case.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the owner says he wants
DeMarco told Tom’s Hardware that he would prefer a refund for the PNY RTX 5090 rather than a replacement, saying he did not feel safe leaving the computer running unattended with that GPU. The report does not say that a refund, replacement, repair, or other remedy has been approved.
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