A recent demonstration by Der8auer has sparked significant discussion regarding the melting issues associated with the GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card and its 12VHPWR connector. This new evidence suggests that these incidents might not always be attributed to user errors, as previously assumed.
Critical Temperature Surge in 12VHPWR Connector During RTX 5090 Operation
The findings from Der8auer’s testing challenge the prevailing notion surrounding the malfunctioning connectors. In a recent incident involving a GeForce RTX 5090, the source of the problem—whether it stemmed from user handling or a third-party cable—remained ambiguous. This necessitated further investigation.
Fortunately, the affected user was able to reach out to Der8auer, who kindly agreed to assist. The user provided their RTX 5090 Founders Edition (FE), 12VHPWR cable, and an ASUS power supply unit (PSU) for comprehensive testing. Der8auer aimed to replicate the situation using his own liquid-cooled RTX 5090 FE along with a Corsair-created 12VHPWR cable, performing a Furmark test to assess thermal behavior.
To everyone’s astonishment, the situation deteriorated rapidly within just five minutes. Using thermal imaging, Der8auer revealed that the cable connectors were reaching alarming temperatures. Specifically, the PSU side peaked at 150°C, while the GPU side approached 90°C. It was confirmed that the connectors were correctly seated, indicating that the overheating issue likely stemmed from a different source.
Investigation revealed that two wires within the 12-pin connector were bearing the majority of the load, resulting in excessive heat generation. Originally, these wires were rated for a maximum of 8 Amps each; however, they were handling over 20 Amps, leading to one wire melting, as illustrated by a user posting on Reddit.
This discovery indicates that a single 12-pin connector may struggle to manage the heavy power demands of the RTX 5090, particularly given its status as a power-intensive GPU. Such high-load incidents may become more common as users deploy this connector with similarly demanding systems. Der8auer recalls earlier reports of melting with the RTX 4090, a problem that did not appear with the RTX 4080 due to lower power consumption levels.
Interestingly, initial concerns pointing toward the quality of the cables and connectors have been mitigated. The Moddiy 12VHPWR cable, closely examined under a microscope, proved to meet quality standards comparable to those from leading manufacturers.
The testing underscored that, despite utilizing a reliable Corsair 12VHPWR cable, the extreme temperatures were jeopardizing component integrity. Had Der8auer continued to stress-test the RTX 5090 FE, the likelihood of connector failure due to melting would have increased significantly. Based on these observations, it appears that the RTX 5090 may require two separate 12-pin power connectors to effectively distribute the electrical load and maintain safer operating temperatures.
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