NVIDIA Claims 16-Pin Power Connector Issues are Over, No More Melting

[AleksandarK]

During a recent press event in South Korea, NVIDIA addressed concerns about power connector safety for their upcoming RTX 5090 graphics card. The new GPU will consume 575 watts of power, marking a massive 225-watt increase from its predecessor, the RTX 4090. The previous generation RTX 4090 faced significant issues with melting 12VHPWR power connectors, especially with third-party adapters, where incomplete connections led to overheating and connector damage. When questioned about potential risks with the RTX 5090's higher power draw, NVIDIA representatives stated they've implemented an updated 12V-2×6 power connector across the RTX 50 series. Unlike the 12VHPWR 16-pin connector, the new 12V-2x6 has sense pins having recessed further back to ensure proper contact before the GPU can request higher power outputs.

"It is expected that such issues will not occur with the RTX 50 series," a company representative explained during the Q&A session. "After about two years, we believe these problems have been resolved." While the company maintains that user error was the leading cause of failures, the extended timeframe required for developing and shipping revised connectors raised questions about the initial design's reliability. Despite NVIDIA's assurances, the RTX 5090's exceptional power requirements could potentially amplify any unexpected technical issues. The company's previous experience showed that problems became more pronounced in cards with higher power demands, as demonstrated by the RTX 4090 having more incidents than the lower-powered RTX 4080 series. So, more power means more trouble, but the company has worked on it to ensure no future problems arise.



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[Crackong]

5090 put 28% more loading on the connector tho.
Hope it really just works.

 

[Why_Me]

That connector was always a Darwin thing imo. It separated the ding dongs from the semi intelligent.

 

[R0H1T]

Well you can't have that old geezer Darwin interfering with capitalism, can you

Spoiler

 

[_roman_]

1st April already? Well done.

I'm glad there are choices. Nvidia does not support every software quite well so the improved power supply connector was just another argument to buy something else.

I wonder why do you have to advertise for stability? Maybe there is some truth in the bad impression of nvidia graphic card build quality.


To repeat myself. How comes other connectors in different sectors do not have such failure modes? I know one little car connector. Open it and hole vehicle has xmas light on the dashboard and the car will not move.

Maybe ask delphi, te and some other companies for engineering knowledge.

 

[JoniISkandar]

Im not Electric Engineer but as far as my understanding

If you put To much Water on Small Pipe it can overvlow, just like the cable, who is thinking put massive power on small cable is good ?

 

[Vincero]

Having the sense pins only make contact if the connector is more properly seated doesn't really work around the issues some had with bad connectors, adapter cables, etc.

I suspect there will be less, but it wouldn't surprise me if things get a bit melty for some

 

[Battler624]

marking a massive 225-watt increase from its predecessor

450W to 575W is 225W yes.

 

[Wirko]

The era of user errors is over, that's comforting to hear.

 

[wNotyarD]

The era of user errors is over, that's comforting to hear.

Users can't make mistakes if AI helps them, right?

 

[Dammeron]

5090 put 28% more loading on the connector tho.
Hope it really just works.

When GN tried to recreate the connector melting they even cut most of the cables so that the load goes only through 1-2 of them and nothing happened. 20-30% more power going through it won't change anything - it's all about removing the risk of contact points barely touching each other, creating high resistance.

 

[Paganstomp]

We'll see...

 

[RyanOCallaghan01]

125-watt.

 

[john_]

Nvidia used Gamers Nexus' credibility to silence everyone that was saying that there was a problem with the connector and unfortunately Steve was insisting on the user error story for way too long after that initial video. Now Nvidia says that the user error problem wasn't a user error problem but something that was fixed with a new revision of the connector.
If we where living in a just world, both Nvidia and Gamers Nexus would have to give explanations to the FTC or any other organization there is out there to protect consumers.
Just my opinion.

 

[csendesmark]

Hope it is better than Valve's bug fixes in TF2

 

[freeagent]

Its fine. And its better than looking at 3x 8 pins hanging out of the side of your card.

Imagine if there was 4? Man that would look even goofier.

 

[BlaezaLite]

These connectors are what mainly put me off Nvidia. That and the low vram. See how these perform this time.

 

[Airisom]

GN concluded it was user error, quickly washed their hands of it, and NVIDIA ran with it so they didn't have to honor repairs under warranty. Pretty sus move from GN imo. NorthRidgeFix deemed it a design issue with board power delivery and the connector itself. I just find it hard to believe that all of these people aren't insertting the connector properly after all of the buzz surrounding it and the high cost of these 4090s. But we'll see with the 5090 if they fixed it.

 

[freeagent]

There are so many people buying computers. That doesnt mean they know what they are doing lol. Damn man, they have noobs building prebuilts for people.

So yeah, if someone cant plug something in all the way, I am not shocked at all.

 

[Hecate91]

Nvidia used Gamers Nexus' credibility to silence everyone that was saying that there was a problem with the connector and unfortunately Steve was insisting on the user error story for way too long after that initial video. Now Nvidia says that the user error problem wasn't a user error problem but something that was fixed with a new revision of the connector.
If we where living in a just world, both Nvidia and Gamers Nexus would have to give explanations to the FTC or any other organization there is out there to protect consumers.
Just my opinion.

Gamers Nexus went with the user error claim since it worked in a test bench environment, but he made a video later on saying the 12v connector is a dumpster fire and wasn't fool proof enough, it seems sort of suspect in my opinion and I have to wonder what went on to have GN rush in to say the connector is fine until it wasn't.
If the regulators actually cared about consumer safety Nvidia would've been forced to recall all cards using the connector and they would still be using the reliable 8 pin connector.
I'd much rather have 3 of the 8 pin connectors on a card than the questionable 16 pin connector, its interesting Nvidia blames it on user error even though they quickly revised the connector.

 

[john_]

Its fine. And its better than looking at 3x 8 pins hanging out of the side of your card.

Imagine if there was 4? Man that would look even goofier.

Goofier and safe or better looking and a fire hazard?
Tough choice.....

 

[freeagent]

Goofier and safe or better looking and a fire hazard?

I don't see a fire hazard. I have one in my machine, where is yours?

 

[Macro Device]

Simply switching good ol' 8-pin to mandatory AWG14 would've fixed this "issue." (by "issue" I mean having more than one power cable)

 

[neatfeatguy]

"It is expected that such issues will not occur with the RTX 50 series,"

I guess we wait and see.

 

[Tomorrow]

That connector was always a Darwin thing imo. It separated the ding dongs from the semi intelligent.

Odd how people who had no problems plugging in 8pin for years suddenly forgot how to plug in power connectors. Maybe they're old and had Alzheimer's. Maybe there's more illiterate gen z users now...

And its better than looking at 3x 8 pins hanging out of the side of your card.

Imagine if there was 4? Man that would look even goofier.

Yes because looks is the number one thing people care about in power delivery. Not safety, not reliability, not ease of use etc. Looks. /s.

I just find it hard to believe that all of these people aren't insertting the connector properly after all of the buzz surrounding it and the high cost of these 4090s.

These people apparently also forgot everything they new from safely plugging in 8pin for years.