Tuesday, June 3rd 2025

AX Gaming GeForce RTX 50xx X3W MAX Series Debuts With Hidden Power Connection System

AX Gaming—an offshoot of the better known Inno3D parent company—has introduced a brand-new X3W MAX product range. Due to recently updated trade restrictions, this Chinese NVIDIA board partner (and others) can no longer source top-flight "Blackwell" GPUs. Until the emergence of a nerfed GeForce RTX 5090D design, AX Gaming's latest lineup hits a ceiling with the GeForce RTX 5080 X3W MAX 16 GB SKU. Currently, TPU's GPU database lists an almost all-white non-MAX model—sporting an identical shroud design, and a similar-ish backplate. The MAX's unique selling point (USP) is a hidden power connection system, coupled with an unusual L-shaped custom power cord. Earlier today, Gigabyte introduced a flagship Stealth ICE model that seemingly takes a couple of cues from Sapphire's latest Nitro+ setup. AX Gaming has readied less potent GeForce RTX 5070 Ti X3W Max 16 GB and GeForce RTX 5070 X3W Max 12 GB options. It is possible that dual-fan (X2W) MAX relatives could appear at a later date; housing Team Green's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 GPUs.
Sources: Tom's Hardware, VideoCardz, GameGPU
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16 Comments on AX Gaming GeForce RTX 50xx X3W MAX Series Debuts With Hidden Power Connection System

#1
PerfectWave
So you cant see your melting cablr amazing! :laugh:
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#2
destruya
PerfectWaveSo you cant see your melting cablr amazing! :laugh:
Better yet, "let's put something that notoriously can get hot and melt inside a conduit next to the GPU and RAM heatsinks."
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#3
sepheronx
Maybe design the cards to have also a fire suppressant system built in. If system is watercooling, built in sprinkler.
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#4
Bobaganoosh
destruyaBetter yet, "let's put something that notoriously can get hot and melt inside a conduit next to the GPU and RAM heatsinks."
Yeah, I really like how they have almost entirely sealed off the heatsink on this thing. For aesthetics, it would be better if the card just overheated constantly, and they've tried to deliver that here.

There's also a huge dead-space on the right side lol. Half the fan is just blowing into the void.
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#5
Dammeron
4 years ago I'd say it looks neat and I like it. Now though...
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#6
ymdhis
Get a case that doesn't have transparent panels. All the cables inside your PC will be instantly hidden. LIFE HACK!
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#7
bonehead123
The heat is neat, but more burn means more churn (for nGreediya, that is) :D

And the more you burn, the more we earn, says da JacketMan !
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#8
Chaitanya
ymdhisGet a case that doesn't have transparent panels. All the cables inside your PC will be instantly hidden. LIFE HACK!
Better yet there are cases with mesh side panels and you dont even have to worry about airflow.
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#9
arni-gx
PerfectWaveSo you cant see your melting cablr amazing! :laugh:
destruyaBetter yet, "let's put something that notoriously can get hot and melt inside a conduit next to the GPU and RAM heatsinks."
but, that is rtx 5070 ti 16gb-rtx 5080 16gb series, not rtx 5080 32gb series.....so, there will not be something accident like that, right ?
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#10
phints
Hidden with much larger GPU plastic cover. This isn't a great solution I'd rather keep an eye on a potentially melting cable.
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#12
lukart
Can they actually do the normal power connectors, or it's by NVIDIA demand it should be the crappy 12v pwr connector?
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#13
N/A
Out of sight out of mind. But I would prefer to take off the white lids plus shroud and it will halve the volume 4 cm on two sides are just hollow and cool better.
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#14
PLAfiller
It's a three fan block, I don't see it going that much extra with the plastic shroud. Width of the cards ain't an issue for modern cases. I am not sure how fast the air will pass though the top openings, but as far the design, it's definitely something interesting.
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#15
tps3443
Everyone one here posting about burned connectors yet they don’t even own a 5090 or plan to.. It’s pretty wild. They are desperately spreading the “Burn Gate” rumor. I know a guy who has owned like (4) 4090’s he doesn’t have a 5090, none of his cards have ever burned. Yet, he complains about the 12VHPWR cable everytime it’s brought up. I literally own a 5090FE, my cable has never burned. I owned a 4090 before and never had any issues, cable never burned. I mean, let’s be realistic. How many cards have burned? Three? I’m pretty sure more 5090’s were opened up with back packs in the box, than there were burned 5090’s. Guys… we have to stop whining. It sounds ridiculous. My card hasn’t burned, and I don’t know anyone with a burned 5090 at the moment. You have a higher chance of getting a dead GPU than burning your cable more than likely. But that’s all people want to talk about these days. Here is the mindset of today’s hardware enthusiast. “If I cannot own 5090, I shall talk crap about 5090 for fun” If your 5090 burns you may just want to play the lottery. Just saying. Way more smart phones and laptops burn everyday due to Lipo batteries. But no one says a thing about that. Get over it already. And please do not post a response of 20 articles talking about the same exact burned GPU. Literally a single 5090 FE has burned. And two other AIB Partner cards have 5090’s burned.. (THAT IS like THREE in total) The issue is not even an issue at all compared to the more widespread 4090, which actually had burned cards in the hundreds. Either buy a GPU or move on.

I know that bad news is more liked than good news. If Nvidia failed as a company people would be happy to watch this video. But if Nvidia doubled their cash flow people would probably not watch this video. That’s just the way it is.. People love negativity. It’s pretty crazy.
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#16
PixelTech
Who is AX Gaming? Is that one of those exclusive Korean AIBs?
tps3443Everyone one here posting about burned connectors yet they don’t even own a 5090 or plan to.. It’s pretty wild. They are desperately spreading the “Burn Gate” rumor. I know a guy who has owned like (4) 4090’s he doesn’t have a 5090, none of his cards have ever burned. Yet, he complains about the 12VHPWR cable everytime it’s brought up. I literally own a 5090FE, my cable has never burned. I owned a 4090 before and never had any issues, cable never burned. I mean, let’s be realistic. How many cards have burned? Three? I’m pretty sure more 5090’s were opened up with back packs in the box, than there were burned 5090’s. Guys… we have to stop whining. It sounds ridiculous. My card hasn’t burned, and I don’t know anyone with a burned 5090 at the moment. You have a higher chance of getting a dead GPU than burning your cable more than likely. But that’s all people want to talk about these days. Here is the mindset of today’s hardware enthusiast. “If I cannot own 5090, I shall talk crap about 5090 for fun” If your 5090 burns you may just want to play the lottery. Just saying. Way more smart phones and laptops burn everyday due to Lipo batteries. But no one says a thing about that. Get over it already. And please do not post a response of 20 articles talking about the same exact burned GPU. Literally a single 5090 FE has burned. And two other AIB Partner cards have 5090’s burned.. (THAT IS like THREE in total) The issue is not even an issue at all compared to the more widespread 4090, which actually had burned cards in the hundreds. Either buy a GPU or move on.

I know that bad news is more liked than good news. If Nvidia failed as a company people would be happy to watch this video. But if Nvidia doubled their cash flow people would probably not watch this video. That’s just the way it is.. People love negativity. It’s pretty crazy.
I was also a 4090 owner and also now have a 5090FE. 4090 was refurbished from BB and looked to have it's connector replaced, because it had the H++ marking on it. But my 5090FE hasn't burned yet, but the overall card does get very hot. (Likely NV will swap out the thermal pads for better ones for the VRAM for later produced ones)
If you haven't seen yet, check out JaysTwoCentz video on the discovery that 12VWPWR or 12V-2x6 connectors sometimes have clasps in the inside of the connector pushed in, so pins aren't making full connection, even when the connector is fully pushed into the socket.
Apparently, there's also different types of clasps inside the 12VWPWR/12V-2x6 connector for both the dongles and cables from power supplies. So, safest option is to research which power supply companies/models/OEMs are using which clasp and also go for a PSU model that has the thicker gauge wires for their 12V-2x6 cables.
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