Nvidia addresses RTX 5090 melting power connector concerns

With the Nvidia RTX 5090 costing $1999, the prospect of a melted power connector is more frightening. The problem affected the RTX 4090, forcing the manufacturer and third parties to revise its cabling. While the updated 12V-2x6 16-pin cable reduced these incidents, the latest flagship GPU consumes even more power. The Korean tech site Quasar Zone reported that at a recent press event, Nvidia tried to alleviate fears about the issue resurfacing.

Not long after the RTX 4090 was released in October 2022, complaints emerged about overheating power connectors. Nvidia initially blamed users, claiming an improperly seated connector could lead to melting. However, that explanation didn't satisfy experienced system builders. Eventually, the company encouraged a change to the 12V-2x6 cables bundled with more recent RTX 4090 graphics cards. That nearly eliminated cases of damaged GPUs, but cards with the older connector were still being sold.

Older versions of the RTX 4090 shipped with the 12VHPWR connector, which supported a 600-watt power draw. The newer 12V-2x6 cables are more durable with shorter and more conductive pins. Since the RTX 5090 consumes 575 watts compared to 450 watts of the previous generation Nvidia GPU, that adds more stress to systems. Still, at the GeForce Update Editor's Day 2025, the company was confident that the 12V-2x6 connector would prevent future disasters.

Not all RTX 5090 makers believe in the stock 12V-2x6 design. MSI is using yellow-tipped power adapters that make it easier to tell when they are securely connected. With the new Nvidia GPU due for release on January 30th, testers are currently pushing its limits to the max. If problems arise with the steep power requirements, buyers will hopefully learn about them before purchasing.