Is NVIDIA Planning a Kepler Recall?

In recent weeks, there has been a rampant rumor going around that NVIDIA is set to (or at least contemplating a) recall all Kepler-based graphics cards sold-to-date due to a discovered fatal flaw. At the moment, NVIDIA is keeping mum on things, except to say that there is “no truth to this” – but as anyone who works with press relations can definitely attest, companies are only going to tell you what they want to tell you, unless they are forced to tell you different.

Since Kepler’s launch, GTX 680 and GTX 690 models have been ultra-scarce in the marketplace, while GTX 670s seem to be bordering on extinction. NVIDIA’s thoughts on this is that the cards are often out-of-stock due to the insane demand. But it’s worth noting that AMD isn’t suffering these shortages at all, despite still offering compelling products and being based on the exact same process and from the exact same fab as NVIDIA. It seems if there is a reason for a recall, it has more to do with a flaw in the architecture than with a flaw in the process (unless NVIDIA has some sort of special recipe).

If a recall does happen, it’s going to be unfortunate for both NVIDIA and everyone who bought a Kepler-based graphics card. Given the rumors are heating up, we’ll no doubt find out for sure within the next week or two if a recall will in fact happen. For the sake of all the hassle that would be caused with such a thing, let’s hope this doesn’t ride out.

Update: Multiple NVIDIA representatives on Facebook have shown their absolute disgust for this rumor, when otherwise they’d usually shun it as much as possible if it was in fact true. The likeliness of this rumor being proven true seems awfully slim at this point.