Nvidia’s RTX 5090 is about to launch, but buyers are worried about burning cables. This issue has occurred frequently with the RTX 4000 series, where Nvidia claimed that improperly connected cables were mainly responsible. Now, Nvidia addresses this issue and talks about their solution.
What is the problem? With Nvidia’s RTX 50 series, the worry about an old problem resurfaces. With the introduction of the RTX 40 series, Nvidia adopted a new power connector, the 12VHPWR connector.
There have been numerous reports from the community (via Reddit) stating that their power cables have burned during operation. It was suspected that the new connector was to blame. A burning cable can, in the worst case, lead to a fire. However, according to Nvidia, it was mostly a poorly connected cable that was the issue.
How does Nvidia respond? Nvidia confirmed in the Q&A session at the Editor’s Day 2025 in South Korea that the issue with melting cables should not occur with the RTX 50 series, even though this card has a power consumption that is 125 watts higher.
According to the English magazine Videocards, Nvidia commented on the cable issues of the last generation:
It is expected that such issues will not occur with the RTX 50 series. In response to the previous issue, some changes have been made to the connectors, and after about two years, we believe that these problems have been resolved.
What change is being made? A switch from the 12VHPWR connector to a 12V-2×6 connector is meant to address the problem. The power connections are longer in this case, while the sensor connections are shorter. This ensures that the connection is completely seated before it is powered. This is intended to prevent the connectors from being improperly seated, which could lead to burning. The community has already discussed the change to the GPU cable of the RTX 5090.
Nvidia regularly releases Collector’s Editions alongside the regular series, such as the NVIDIA TITAN Xp in Star Wars design.
How to avoid damaging your cables
- Ensure proper connection: Make sure that the cable is fully and correctly plugged into the graphics card’s connector. An incomplete connection can lead to a poor connection and overheating.
- Avoid bending excessively: Nvidia and other third-party manufacturers warn against bending power cables and connectors too much. Such bends can cause thermal hotspots that, in the worst case, can lead to melting or burning of the cables.
- Route cables properly: Ensure that the cables are not under tension and have enough play to promote airflow and avoid overheating.
- Use appropriate cables: Manufacturers point out that the original cables provided should be used. Whenever possible, use high-quality cables that are suitable for the corresponding power consumption. (For example, from Cablemod). The proper length of the cables also plays a role.
- Visual aid with cable connectors: Use color-coded cable connectors that make it easier to see if the cable is correctly seated. These connectors have a noticeable color that can assist in installation.
However, there are many other reasons how damage or dangerous fire hazards can occur in your PC. A user on Reddit reported that his sister played so much Fortnite that her Nvidia graphics card caught fire.
