RTX 50 series graphics cards are almost here – starting with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 at the end of the month (on January 30th). These GPUs were announced at CES 2025 nearly two weeks ago and bring forth DLSS 4 with its new Multi Frame Generation technology, available in 75 games and apps on release.

We already know that the high-end 50 series cards will feature the newer 12V-2×6 standard connector (and the 5090 FE will feature an angled cable design). This is already a way of tackling the power connector melting issue that became a costly issue for some RTX 4090 owners. Now, on top of those precautions, MSI is shipping its cards with a yellow-tipped adapter.

MSI gives RTX 5090, 5080, and 5070 Ti a yellow-tipped power connector

The yellow-tipped adapter is something that we’ve previously seen on MSI’s range of power supplies and now it’s coming to the RTX 50 series graphics cards. As the most powerful of the bunch (by a generous margin), the RTX 5090 features a quad 8-pin to 16-pin adapter, while the 5080 and 5070 Ti adopt a triple 8-pin to 16-pin variant. As you can see from the image below, both of these connectors feature a distinct yellow tip.

Notably, the 12V-2×6 power connector has shorter sensing pins than the 12VHPWR standard which shipped with the 40 series. This helps ensure the power cable has been properly connected and helps avoid a loose connection as a result of user error – reportedly the reason for the melting adapters last gen. Now with the yellow tip, this reinforces that idea. Essentially, if you can still see any bright yellow after plugging in your new 50 series GPU, it has not been correctly secured.

What about the RTX 5070? Well, it doesn’t get the same treatment. The xx70 series model sports a less power-hungry 250W TDP, and as spotted on the MSI website, seemingly sticks to the bog-standard power adapter with Nvidia branding. With less than half the power draw of the flagship 5090, the 5070 uses a dual 8-pin to 16-pin connector.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.