When Nvidia’s RTX 4090 mobile GPU was released, it raised eyebrows for possibly being unnecessary compared to the cheaper RTX 4080, largely due to power constraints. However, when put through a shunt mod, the RTX 4090 can unlock up to 35% more performance, outperforming typical RTX 5090 laptops.

This study centers around a Reddit user known as thatavidreadertrue who managed to push an Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 beyond its official 150W limit. This was achieved with a clever modification involving the laptop’s three-fan setup and some technical tweaks.

What Is Shunt Modding?

Shunt modding involves changes to the current-sensing shunt resistor, effectively tricking the device into believing it’s consuming less power, making it possible to use more power than intended.

As for results, after the modding, the RTX 4090 was said to hit approximately 240W—significantly surpassing its rating. Additional thermal adjustments, including better thermal paste, were implemented to cope with the increased power.

Notably, performance against other laptops powered by the newer RTX 5090 reveals that the modified device performed 3.5% faster overall as compared to its competitors, exploiting the potential of the original RTX 4090. The Redditor stated:

“Shunt modding the M16 4090 let me match the performance of most 5090 laptops… Depending on your risk tolerance, shunt modding a laptop is a very viable choice.”

Takeaway

Although shunt modding showcases potential performance enhancements in the RTX 4090, it poses unknown long-term reliability risks since the hardware wasn’t originally designed for such levels of output. Caution is advised for anyone considering similar modifications.