Sapphire RX 9070 XT 16-Pin Connector Overheating Issue: Second Reported Case

In recent news, the Sapphire Nitro RX 9070 XT has become the latest victim of a concerning trend: the melting of high-capacity 16-pin power connectors. This incident follows a similar episode involving the ASRock RX 9070 XT, raising alarms within the PC gaming community about the reliability of these components.

Redditor Reports Melted 16-Pin Connector on Sapphire Nitro RX 9070 XT Connected to Corsair PSU Via Adapter

Only a month has passed since the initial reports of melting connectors on the Radeon RX 9070 XT were published, and another case has now surfaced. This is perplexing given that the RX 9070 XT operates within a modest power range of 300-350W under full load, which inherently positions it as less demanding compared to other modern GPUs. Compounding the issue is the fact that very few RX 9070 XT models utilize this 16-pin power connector; the majority of manufacturers have opted for three 8-pin PCIe power connectors instead, which are more standard.

The incident reported by a Reddit user, known as u/e92justin, indicates that the Sapphire Radeon RX 9070 XT Nitro+ edition is the latest casualty. In an image shared by the user, the melted connector can be seen clearly. Importantly, the user was using a 3x 8-pin to 12VHPWR adapter that was bundled with the GPU, as their power supply unit (PSU) lacked a native 12VHPWR or 12V-2×6 connector.

A finger points at an unbranded internal computer connector with ERP Ready on the motherboard inside a PC case. — 16-pin melted connector after use on Sapphire RX 9070 XT Nitro+ OC; Image Credit: Reddit

While melting incidents often occur in setups using adapters, it’s essential to establish context. The connection in question should theoretically handle the GPU’s power draw up to 360W—reported by the user since they were operating at a +10% power limit. This consumption level is in line with typical usage scenarios, especially when compared to similar high-performance models such as the RTX 5080.

However, it’s worth noting that like the RX 9070 XT, the RTX 5080 also shows vulnerability to connector issues, particularly in the more power-intensive RTX 5090 models, which have a TDP exceeding 575W. Frequent connector failures across these products underscore the critical importance of robust load balancing in power delivery systems. Consequently, while the user’s use of an adapter may have contributed to the issue, it isn’t the sole reason behind the melting connector phenomena.

Given the current circumstances, it may be better for consumers to opt for RX 9070 XT variants that feature 3x 8-pin configurations instead of 16-pin connectors. For those already in possession of the ASRock or Sapphire models, adhering to the manufacturer’s specifications and guidelines is now more crucial than ever to prevent similar occurrences.

For further information on this topic, you can refer to the original report on Videocardz.

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