RTX 5090 power cable mangled in fire, in latest troubling incident with Nvidia Blackwell GPU

Despite various attempts to solve the issue, reports of RTX 5090 power connectors burning up continue. The latest case may be one of the most severe documented yet. Nmp14fayl on Reddit shared how his pricey Blackwell GPU went up in flames, with part of the 16-pin power cable completely destroyed.

Another RTX 5090 gets too toasty

The Redditor explains how he had the graphics card for nine months before disaster struck. All of a sudden, fire engulfed the 12V-2x6 power cable, stripping the coating from its wires. The GPU’s connection point is also damaged, and the gamer has not yet attempted to disconnect the cable.

Fortunately, the flames didn’t spread far beyond the vicinity of the MSI RTX 5090. Other essential parts in the gaming PC, like the motherboard and its onboard video output, still function. The gamer has a protection plan with the Micro Center retailer, which may reimburse him.

According to nmp14fayl, he used a cable that shipped with the power supply. Readers are currently debating whether the ATX 3.1 PSU contributed to the episode. Given the RTX 50-series' history, other critics believe its power connector is inadequate.

Choosing the correct PSU for the RTX 5090 is critical

Another poster identified the power supply as a Cooler Master MWE Gold 1050 V2. 1050 watts is borderline for many builds with a thirsty RTX 5090. The component also isn’t highly rated compared to alternatives. In most cases, a PSU should stop the flow of electricity before a visible fire starts.

It’s also possible that, regardless of the gamer’s build, the RTX 5090 would have met an early demise. The overheating issue dates back to the RTX 4090, prompting Nvidia to move to the newer 12V-2x6 connector. Even with the manufacturer's claim that it can handle the considerable power draw, melting incidents continue.

Nvidia often blames an improperly seated power cable, but nmp14fayl claims the connection was secure. GPU brands like MSI modified cables to make alignment with pins more foolproof. Asus also added sensors to its Blackwell cards to detect signs of trouble with individual pins.