12 pin GPU connector survey

[BoggledBeagle]

I have a suspition, that not all cables and connectors are made with the care they deserve and there are some substandard and even dangerous cables out there. Some cables might have been damaged by users too.

This survey should help to identify them.

Post your photos of 12 pin GPU connectors, write identification data about the product, when you bought it, current measurement results on all 6 live wires, try to estimate, how much used the cable was before you made the pictures and measurement, describe the state of the connectors. In case you have a some additional information, post it as well, as thermal imaging shots, etc.

Post information even if you do not have e.g. current measurement, if you do not know the exact number of insertions (just estimate it). Even the information, that the individual cables feel the same warm in the hand is sufficient.

Please crop and resize the photos to a sane size (for example 1600 pix long side) and insert them into your message as a thumbnail. Good free photo tool is Faststone.

A template:

Cable manufacturer and model, connector type:

Date of purchase, manufacture, serial number:

Number of insertions on PSU side:

Number of insertions on GPU side:

Installation type: Fixed cable in a PC, handled the cable a lot on a test bench, etc.

Current measurement: Include information on how long has the plug been undisturbed before the measurement, try to move the cables as little s possible to avoid any changes in the plug during the measurement (for example rubbing off corrosion on the contact area).

Connectors and socket state description: Include info about the movement of metal connector pieces in the plastic plug body.

Issues:

Photos: Describe what end of the cable you photographed, phoptograph the GPU socket too in case of some damage. Try to photograph the plug in such angle, that the width of the slots in the metal connection pieces is visible to assess if the connector tubes are not opened too much.

Do not strip EXIF info from your photos to somehow support credibility of your photos.

Comments:



I will kick it off:

Cable manufacturer and model, connector type: Cable supplied with Seasonic Vertex GX-1000

Date of purchase, manufacture, serial number: 11/2024, ?, R2309SA109121823

Number of insertions on PSU side: 1

Number of insertions on GPU side: 4

Installation type: Fixed cable in a PC

Current measurement: 10 days after insertion, RTX 5080 - 400W load with Furmark, total current 33,4A, Current in individual wires 5,6 – 5,8A




Connectors and socket state description:
No damage
Plastic plug bodies feel pretty soft.
Metal connection pieces move in the plug body a bit, the range of movement is visible in the photo
The metal connector tubes have one slot in them.

Issues: none

Photos:

GPU side (PSU side is the same):




Comments:

These plugs obviously work well at this moment, but they do not feel too sturdy. I would be careful about abusing these plugs with too many insertions. According to the serial number, production date of this PSU may be September 2023. I believe that plugs supplied with freshly made PSUs may be better than plugs supplied with this PSU.

 

[freeagent]

I bought my Vertex GX1000 in April 2024

 

[BoggledBeagle]

I bought my Vertex GX1000 in April 2024

View attachment 385009

I used just a crappy macro camera on my cheap mobile phone, but you can see the details and width of the slots in the contact tubes pretty well in my photo. I do not see much in your honestly...

 

[freeagent]

I used just a crappy macro camera on my cheap mobile phone, but you can see the details and width of the slots in the contact tubes pretty well in my photo. I do not see much in your honestly...

I cropped it all to hell in this low light, super early here on the tundra.

Edit:

And I had a relapse and picked my nails.. dammit.

 

[BoggledBeagle]

Cable manufacturer and model, connector type: Seasonic cable with 2 x 8 pins plugs (populated 2x 6 pins) and 12 pin plug

Date of purchase, manufacture, serial number: 2/2025, ?, ?



Number of insertions on PSU side: 1

Number of insertions on GPU side: 1

Installation type: Fixed cable in a PC

Current measurement: the day of installation, RTX 5080 400W Furmark, all single cables 5,6 - 5,7 A.



Connectors and socket state description:
No damage.
Plastic plug body feels firm.
Cables are molded in plastic and I cannot pull/push on them to see if the metal connector tubes move

Issues: none

Photos:

GPU end:



Comments:

This plug feels much more solid and tight than the previous plug. The metal connector tubes inside are a different type, they have two slots in them and both sides are closed together.

This cable has more robust connection with PSU - two six pin connections in bodies of two 8 pin plugs. I will use this instead of the original cable with two 12 pin plugs on both ends.

 

[BoggledBeagle]

After three weeks, nobody has any problem to report. That is good news, the problem with the cables is probably very rare, most of the time caused by using damaged or worn out plugs.

 

[BoggledBeagle]

I am happy that this thread is for presenting real evidence and providing useful information to others, and not about meaningless baseless discussions.

 

[Dr. Dro]

After three weeks, nobody has any problem to report. That is good news, the problem with the cables is probably very rare, most of the time caused by using damaged or worn out plugs.

I've used this cable with my RTX 4080 from the day I received it to the day I sold my card in mid January. The cable is fine, although it is an H+ type cable. I'm unsure I should buy another H++ cable, as this one is tailored for my power supply and there is zero damage or even any sign of wear on it (didn't insert and reinsert it all the time, once to clean the card every 6 months or so). It's 3x input PSU side but it's a large single rail and all terminals on the cable are connected so I guess it is not necessary.

(bizarre pricing is just global shipping and taxes, it was $25, I just had to buy one for me, one for the government and one for DHL)

Tiny bit of dust in there, just been dangling inside my case since I removed the 4080 and I haven't cleaned my PC, as I'll rebuild when the 5090 arrives.

 

[Chomiq]

I am happy that this thread is for presenting real evidence and providing useful information to others, and not about meaningless baseless discussions.

The main problem is not everyone with 12-pin cable has a current clamp handy. So best you'll probably get will be picture of the connector and "melted" or "hasn't melted".

 

[Dr. Dro]

The main problem is not everyone with 12-pin cable has a current clamp handy. So best you'll probably get will be picture of the connector and "melted" or "hasn't melted".

Yep, best I can do. My dad might have one, but... I don't have a card to use it with anyways. Though, if there was even the slightest heat damage, you could probably see it as well.

 

[TheDeeGee]

After three weeks, nobody has any problem to report. That is good news, the problem with the cables is probably very rare, most of the time caused by using damaged or worn out plugs.

It can take a long time.

Some weeks ago on the NVIDIA reddit a guy posted a picture of his cable that was inserted for 2 years, and one of the pins was slightly deformed.

It was used on a 4090.

 

[_roman_]

I think the measurement device should be mentioned also, in full name and type: E.g.: voltcraft vc 607
If the measurement device was ever calibrated or not. If it is true rms type or not.

It is important to mark the calbes and measure only one strand. Because of the nature of the hall effect sensor. Or you have to be sure to know which cable is which when you want to measure the total current. Note: if you mix up the cables when you measure more than one - you get a wrong result. - check the basics about current clamps before

 

[Frizz]

Cable manufacturer and model, connector type: EZDIY-FAB Shield PCIE 5.1 GPU Extension Cable with 90 Degree 12V-2x6 Angle Adapter,16pin (12+4) 12VHPWR PCIe 5.1 PSU Cable Extension for RTX 40 Series with Combs-Reverse Type-White

Date of purchase, manufacture, serial number: 10 Feb 2025

Number of insertions on PSU side: 6

Number of insertions on GPU side: 8

Installation type: Fixed cable in a PC

Connectors and socket state description: Only the cable burnt and left residue that I had to clean off the GPU, PSU Cable and GPU Connector have no burn damage

Issues: General Instability, can only increase to 156 core in MSI Afterburner. High Power Consumption even when undervolted. Subtle Burning Smell. VERY LOUD COIL WHINE.

Photos:

Comments: Never. Again.

 

[BoggledBeagle]

Connectors and socket state description: Only the cable burnt and left residue that I had to clean off the GPU, PSU Cable and GPU Connector have no burn damage

At least one pin in the GPU socket probably was subjected to high heat, that may have melted the plastic socket body around it, if it had back hardened and still holds the pin securely in a good position, I think that the GPU socket is still usable.

Could you please try inspect and poke the pins in the GPU socket, if they seem to be in correct position and if some of them moves? If some of them moves, it still may be held in more or less good position by other parts of the socket body and the solder connection with the PCB, but this would start getting a bit sketchy.

 

[Frizz]

At least one pin in the GPU socket probably was subjected to high heat, that may have melted the plastic socket body around it, if it had back hardened and still holds the pin securely in a good position, I think that the GPU socket is still usable.

Could you please try inspect and poke the pins in the GPU socket, if they seem to be in correct position and if some of them moves? If some of them moves, it still may be held in more or less good position by other parts of the socket body and the solder connection with the PCB, but this would start getting a bit sketchy.

Ahh I shoved like 3 types of cables in since then over 15 times and cleaned her out, not going to be unplugging it again anytime soon voltages are much better with the octo adapter. It was hitting 11.5v on the 16-pin at 300 or so watts would have gone much lower at 600w I believe.

Edit: While cleaning I did not notice any movement from the pins, the main thing that got burnt is the EZIDY cable adapter it did leave residue in that pin housing though.

For cleaning I used a pikster and some isopropyl

@BoggledBeagle

 

[BoggledBeagle]

Ahh I shoved like 3 types of cables in since then over 15 times and cleaned her out, not going to be unplugging it again anytime soon voltages are much better with the octo adapter. It was hitting 11.5v on the 16-pin at 300 or so watts would have gone much lower at 600w I believe.

Edit: While cleaning I did not notice any movement from the pins, the main thing that got burnt is the EZIDY cable adapter it did leave residue in that pin housing though.

For cleaning I used a pikster and some isopropyl

You did a good job with photographing the socket and also unfortunately did not crop the images and include them in the post as thumbnails, like this:




In the second photo I see some void above the most affected pin on the bottom, it seems that the pin may be a little bit loose in the socket body, but as long it does not push inside when you insert the plug in it, I believe you should be fine?