Monday, February 10th 2025
Unofficial 12V-2x6V Power Connector Melts NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
NVIDIA's high-TDP flagship GPU, the GeForce RTX 5090, appears to cause additional headaches for users, not including the high power bill. According to a Reddit user, we now have the first documented case of a melted power connector on NVIDIA's flagship GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition, reigniting concerns over high-wattage GPU safety from the last generation. While playing Battlefield 5, Reddit user ivan6953 detected a burning odor and immediately shut down their system, only to discover severe damage to both the RTX 5090's 12V-2×6 connector and their ASUS ROG Loki SFX-L PSU. The user had employed a Moddiy 12VHPWR cable, marketed as ATX 3.0/PCIe 5.0-compliant and rated for RTX 5090's 600 watts of power. Despite claims of secure installation—audible clicks at both ends—the cable melted at 500-520 W load, charring connectors on the GPU and PSU.
Notably, the same cable had powered an RTX 4090 FE for two years without issue. NVIDIA's RTX 5090 FE ships with a redesigned adapter featuring a longer, more flexible cable and an angled connector to reduce strain in compact builds. NVIDIA asserts that no incidents have occurred with its bundled adapter, emphasizing compliance with the updated 12V-2×6 standard, which shortens sensing pins to prevent power flow if connections loosen. Hence, an older connector can not provide 100% secure usage despite the user thinking that the sensing pins are touching properly.
A second case reported by Spanish YouTuber Toro Tocho involved a melted PSU-side connector, though the GPU remained undamaged. This resulted from worn connectors or improper seating despite user assurances of correct installation. RTX 5090 owners should avoid third-party adapters and rely solely on NVIDIA's included cable or PSU-native connectors. Regular inspections for discoloration, wear, or bending near connectors are also advised, particularly for systems with high power consumption. While NVIDIA investigates, the takeaway is clear: cutting corners on power delivery risks costly hardware failures. The RTX 5090's melting woes appear isolated to unofficial accessories—a small solace for early adopters navigating the pitfalls of the high-TDP GPU era.
Sources:
Reddit, via VideoCardz
Notably, the same cable had powered an RTX 4090 FE for two years without issue. NVIDIA's RTX 5090 FE ships with a redesigned adapter featuring a longer, more flexible cable and an angled connector to reduce strain in compact builds. NVIDIA asserts that no incidents have occurred with its bundled adapter, emphasizing compliance with the updated 12V-2×6 standard, which shortens sensing pins to prevent power flow if connections loosen. Hence, an older connector can not provide 100% secure usage despite the user thinking that the sensing pins are touching properly.
41 Comments on Unofficial 12V-2x6V Power Connector Melts NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
I just can't understand why the revised connector still doesn't lock in place so this shit is less likely to happen.
Speculation at this point is either it wasn't actually fully secure, the cable was worn out, or something of the sorts.
I still say 12VHPWR is a terrible design. It's easy to say user error in many of these cases, but at a certain point the prevalence of "user error" becomes a design problem whether its the securing mechanism, or the pin redesign for 12V 2x6 isn't actually doing what it's supposed to do. Not to mention just the idea of 600W going through this puny connector/cable.
As the photo shows the length of the cable, and looks to not even stretch to the length of the 5090 FE, which is 300mm
www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5090.c4216
static.tweaktown.com/content/1/0/10433_8_asus-rog-loki-850w-sfx-platinum-atx-3-0-psu-review_full.jpg
B. This power supply unit has the older socket, the 12VHPWR, not the revised socket, 12V-2x6. And the 5090 FE has the revised socket.
C. Due to the short length of the cable, it would be safe to assume the build is a SFF. Which can mean that the user was putting a lot of pull on the cable. Likely the user had not bought a long enough cable for slack inside the tight fitting case.
As for the custom cable, yeah maybe it was bad quality, maybe not, who knows.
But yeah I'm staying with the cable that I had with my PSU, no changing seems better option, if not for safety then for warranty claim later at least.
Or is that only changed on the GPU side?
- Melt stuff.
- Okay by melting you meant...melting.
- Yeah.
- So it's like art ?
- Yeah, you can melt art.
Welp, I learned something new today. I thought both the connector and plug were changed, but it was just the plug. As far as I've seen.
I think maybe one of these inside prongs was inferior for the connector?
NVIDIA has enough momentum to force the change anyway.
Ngreedia needs to keep receiving all the free passes in the world.
Not giving an overall crap power connector (imo) a pass here, but the user definitely chose poorly on cabling and installation.
And there was no issue with re-using a PSU with 8 pin connectors, or a third party connector. IMO 12vhpwr and 12v2x6 is still a flawed design, it's too easy to not have the connector plugged in all the way, or can come loose without the sense pins shutting down power to the card.