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Early 2,500W XOC BIOS Cracks MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z in LN2 Overclocking

MSI reserved the unlocked firmware for select record attempts with warranties voided upon use.

Overview

  • Indonesian overclocker Alva Jonathan set a Geekbench 5 GPU compute world record at 683,433 on the Lightning Z before the failure.
  • An early revision of the 2,500W XOC BIOS was reported to push 1.2V rapidly at startup, causing thermal shock and a cracked GB202 die during testing.
  • The Lightning Z is engineered for extreme power with dual 12V‑2x6 connectors, a 40‑phase VRM, and official 800W and 1000W profiles.
  • The 2,500W XOC BIOS has leaked online and users are flashing it onto non‑MSI RTX 5090s, raising warnings about instability, connector melting, and irreversible damage.
  • MSI is producing about 1,300 units of the Lightning Z, and resale listings have appeared at prices as high as $14,999.