Nvidia’s upcoming RTX 50 series GPUs come with numerous architectural improvements and performance uplifts over the previous generation. The flagship of the series, the RTX 5090 will be the fastest gaming GPU on the market, with leaked benchmarks showing a significant performance difference compared to the RTX 4090.

Among these highlights, we also saw Nvidia introduce a new and improved power connector in the RTX 5090 Founders Edition, in part designed to address the melting cable issue experienced by RTX 4090 users. While this new design appears to be an effective solution, gamers with specific PC cases may need to make some adjustments to make it fit properly.

An angled power connector should at least be useful for small PC cases

The RTX 5090 comes with an angled 12V-2×6 power connector, which ensures proper connection and secure power delivery through shorter sensing pins. This design also includes an angled layout aimed at minimizing overheating. These new angled connectors are particularly beneficial for small cases with limited space and offer neater cable management. However, users with larger or specifically designed cases may need to deal with some twisting and turning to accommodate the design.

Gizmodo, a popular tech publication, received a review unit of the RTX 5090 Founders Edition and addressed this concern. Although they were advised not to showcase the card inside a build, they highlighted an important point that the angled power connector might pose challenges for cases where the power cable routes from the back.

“The 16-pin power connection now sits at an angle to the card itself. This may be a boon for smaller cases, but I know in my current setup with the Origin PC it will actually mean I need to twist the power connection up to fit it in the correct slots.”

Kyle Barr, Gizmodo

Unlike Linus’s video on the RTX 5090 FE, where the power cable entered from the bottom of the case and fit seamlessly, cases with a PSU located at the back may require users to twist the power connector to fit it properly. While Gizmodo didn't specify the type of PC case in question, this seems to be the likely scenario they were referencing. That said, the new angled power connectors aren't inherently bad. Looking at the bigger picture, avoiding melted cables is a significant improvement. A little extra twisting and turning is a small price to pay for safer and more reliable power delivery.

About the Author

Hassam Nasir

Hassam boasts over seven years of professional experience as a dedicated PC hardware reviewer and writer.