Player checks his RTX 5090 monthly due to melted cables: If only he hadn’t unplugged and pressed it so often

Ttielbild RTX-Grafikkarte Unsplash

A player checks his RTX 5090 meticulously for months. He fears that the cables of his graphics card might melt. However, this constant checking will lead to problems for him and the graphics card.

A player reports that he has carefully inspected his expensive RTX 5090 for months due to concerns that his costly graphics card would fail. On X.com, it states: “I always unplug the 12VHPWR connector and check it.”

However, despite thorough monitoring, the player was surprised to find that both the connection of the RTX 5090 and the plug on the cable were burned when he conducted a routine check of his system. According to the user, he “unplugs” the 16-pin connector every three months and reconnects it. Additionally, he blows out the dust in the case every month and manually presses the plug to ensure it fits snugly.

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Controversial power connector has been causing trouble among gamers for many months

What exactly is the problem? Nvidia has introduced a new power connector with the RTX 40 series, the 12VHPWR connector. However, this connector has been criticized by users for some time. There are repeated reports that the power cables have melted during operation.

Nvidia, however, absolves itself of any blame, stating that the fault lies with the users who connect the cables incorrectly. Nvidia has made several adjustments to the cable following criticism.

What did the user do wrong? The magazine WCCFTech reports that the user repeatedly unplugged the cable from his graphics card to check it. The continual plugging and unplugging puts a lot of stress on the connector contacts and has likely led to significant wear. The connector is already prone to melting and, due to its weak construction, is also susceptible to damage.

Basically, there is no reason to constantly pull the cable out or press it firmly, once it is securely fitted. Often, strong bends in the cable are now more of a problem. Due to the changes Nvidia has made, the cables should now fit securely in the graphics card connector on new models.

Some users in the Reddit thread also point out that the cable was not properly connected from the beginning:

If your voltage has fallen significantly below 12 V, that was already a sign that your cable was not connected properly. If you noticed this early enough – and judging by your post, it seems that you did – you should have reconnected the cable long ago. At both ends.

In any case, it remains true: Nvidia may have redesigned the cable, but one must handle the 12VHPWR connector much more carefully than the classic PCIe connectors (6-pin & 8-pin).

A retailer is selling you high-end Nvidia GPUs starting at 1,500 euros. However, you won’t have much joy with them. The seller emphasizes that the devices are supposed to be defective. In the best case, you get a functioning graphics card; in the most frustrating case, you’ve bought expensive electronic waste: A retailer is currently selling RTX 5090 graphics cards starting at 1,500 euros, but in the worst case, you only get electronic waste

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.