Nvidia claims power connector melting issue has been fixed with the 50 series, but not everyone is convinced
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When the RTX 4090 was launched back in 2022, it came with a new 16-pin (12+4 pin) 12VHPWR power connector that unfortunately faced severe issues, with users reporting melting cable problems. This was eventually dismissed as user error, but the issue persisted, and soon manufacturers adopted the newer 12V-2×6 standard for the high-end 40-series cards. Now, Nvidia has unveiled its new RTX 50 series cards, and among the four GPUs announced, the flagship RTX 5090, the most powerful graphics card, now reaches a TDP of 575W – 125W higher than the 4090.
This raises a valid concern for some users about whether Nvidia has prepared for a scenario where such issues might reappear. Well, it seems they have a few tricks up their sleeves, as the company has assured that “such issues will not occur with the RTX 50 series.” However, they've left an important detail out: How exactly do they plan to combat the issue? Well, we already know that the solution lies in an updated power connector design and the newer 12V-2×6 standard.
Melting connector issue resolved, according to Nvidia
In South Korea, Nvidia hosted an Editors Day, followed by a Q&A session where one of the attendees raised a question about the overheating issues that affected the previous-generation flagship. Nvidia representatives responded by saying:
Q1. With the release of the RTX 40 series, the power connector was changed to a new 12+4 pin standard. However, there was an issue where connectors were melting due to overheating, especially with the RTX 4090. Has this been resolved with the RTX 5090?
A1. It is expected that such issues will not occur with the RTX 50 series. In response to the issue at the time, some changes were made to the connectors, and after about two years, we believe these problems have been resolved.
Source: QuasarZone
Now, the representative didn't provide details on how exactly they've tackled the issue, but the company believes users won't face such problems with the RTX 50 series GPUs. It was determined that the issue was caused by user error, where if the connector isn't fully engaged, it can overheat and, in extreme cases, melt the connector. The fix comes in the form of a new power connector.
To ensure proper connection and secure power delivery, the RTX 5090 GPUs will come with the new 12V-2×6 cables featuring shorter sensing pins and new angled power adapters aimed at minimizing overheating.
In fact, Nvidia isn’t the only one addressing this issue; MSI also introduced their yellow-tipped adapters for the RTX 50-series graphics cards. These adapters come with the new 12V-2×6 power connectors, but what's interesting is that the yellow tip at the end helps ensure a proper connection. The idea is that, if you can still see any bright yellow after plugging in your new 50-series GPU, it hasn't been securely connected.
Not everyone is entirely convinced
Looking over to reaction to this news, in this Reddit thread, you’ll notice people commenting on the fact that user error was given as the official reason for issues the first time around, so people are questioning what exactly is there to ‘fix’. In any case, the lack of a concrete explanation has people questioning whether user error could come into play yet again, especially with even higher TDPs to account for.
One user writes: “Should not inspires exactly zero confidence” and another reads “Heard that before, let’s hope it’s actually true”. Either way, we have confidence that the measures taken to improve the power adapter will ensure easier setup of the GPU that will eliminate the prior user error issue.
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