Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics card connector melts, but unofficial cable may be the cause

[midian182]

What just happened? It appears that an RTX 5090 Founders Edition has suffered a melting connector issue. But before this gets added to the lengthy list of why Blackwell is proving to be the most-unpopular Nvidia GPU generation in recent memory, there's a caveat: the incident occurred while a non-official power cable was being used.

A Reddit user going by the name ivan6953 shared images of an RTX 5090 FE with a badly melted connector. Given that this was a prevalent problem with the RTX 4090 series, there have long been concerns that it could reappear in the $2,000 successor.

Thankfully for Nvidia and anyone who somehow managed to get hold of a Blackwell flagship, the cable in question wasn't the same one that comes with the card. It was a Moddiy cable, which, according to the website, is an ATX 3.0 PCIe 5.0 16-pin to 16-pin model supporting up to 600W with a 12V-2X6 design.

ivan6953 writes that he was playing Battlefield 5 with a power draw of 500W to 520W when he smelled something burning. Sensibly, he immediately turned off his PC to investigate.

As shown in the images, the damage was quite extensive. The connectors are burnt on both sides of the cable, which is something we haven't often seen in the RTX 4090 meltgate incidents. There's also damage to the Asus ROG Loki PSU.

The graphics card also suffered burn damage.

Many of these melting cable incidents have occurred because the connectors were not fully inserted, but the Redditor insists that it was fully locked and clicked into place. He also notes that he had used the same cable and PSU for two years with his old RTX 4090 FE.

It's noted that the official cable that comes with the RTX 5090 is longer and more flexible, while the connector on the GPU side is angled. The original 12VHPWR power cable that came with the RTX 4090 was stiff and bent too close to the connector, meaning it sometimes wasn't plugged in correctly, leading to the melting issues.

Last week brought more reports about the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 potentially melting their cables. However, it turned out that the problem was affecting only the RTX 4090 and likely the result of user error.

Blackwell may suffer from disappointing generational improvements, reports of bricking, prices way above MSRP, and almost non-existent stock levels, but at least Nvidia can say the cards aren't melting any of their supplied cables – yet.

h/t: VideoCardz

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Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics card connector melts, but unofficial cable may be the cause

 

[yRaz]

I think were going to have lots of people who spent lots of time doing cable management don't want to re-do their cable management just to replace their preciously working cable with the new one. While their old cable might have worked fine with a 30 or 40 series card, it may not work well when the 5090 tries to suck as much power out of the wall as it can.

Yes, you can blame this on user error, but it doesn't stop the precious connector from being fundamentally flawed and now we have tons of the old cables in circulation that will, inevitably, be used with newer cards.

 

[opckieran]

I hope nVidia and/or ATX drop this connector soon. Pushing up to 600W continuously with kilowatt+ bursts through such thin gauges might be safe in the lab, but there are too many variations in the real world.

Ideally there would be an update to the PCIe spec to allow for more wattage to be delivered via the slot, or, slightly less optimally but more practically, an physical extension to the slot. To accomplish this, the emerging BTF standard is gonna need to be retooled for a lower profile but thicker gauge, likely by stacking pins one high instead of two, then splitting power delivery into multiple connectors to be more manageable, with the added benefit of bringing said connectors closer to major components.

 

[yRaz]

I hope nVidia and/or ATX drop this connector soon. Pushing up to 600W continuously with kilowatt+ bursts through such thin gauges might be safe in the lab, but there are too many variations in the real world.

Ideally there would be an update to the PCIe spec to allow for more wattage to be delivered via the slot, or, slightly less optimally but more practically, an physical extension to the slot. To accomplish this, the emerging BTF standard is gonna need to be retooled for a lower profile but thicker gauge, likely by stacking pins one high instead of two, then splitting power delivery into multiple connectors to be more manageable, with the added benefit of bringing said connectors closer to major components.

This would increase motherboard coasts as you'd need more copper and more layers. Honestly, I like the idea of just not putting 600 watt components in the PC

 

[godrilla]

What do you call doing the same thing expecting a different outcome?
One time use $2000 minimum Blackwell utensils!

 

[mcnabney]

The 5090 comes with a 16pin to 16pin cable? I thought it only came with the adapter to pull power from 8 pin cables? That is an ATX3 PS so it is a direct 16 to 16pin cable without the need for an adapter.

 

[godrilla]

The 5090 comes with a 16pin to 16pin cable? I thought it only came with the adapter to pull power from 8 pin cables? That is an ATX3 PS so it is a direct 16 to 16pin cable without the need for an adapter.

Deep dive by Buildzoid. FYI.

 

[opckieran]

This would increase motherboard coasts as you'd need more copper and more layers. Honestly, I like the idea of just not putting 600 watt components in the PC

Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like 600W components are going away any time soon. And sure, motherboard costs may increase 10, even 20%, but that’d be a pittance compared to wrecking a $2,000 GPU out-of-warranty.

 

[yRaz]

Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like 600W components are going away any time soon. And sure, motherboard costs may increase 10, even 20%, but that’d be a pittance compared to wrecking a $2,000 GPU out-of-warranty.

An extra 10-20% would add an extra $50-100 on most high-end mother boards. It wouldn't increase costs for just people people buying those GPUS, it would increase costs for everyone. All because nVidia doesn't know how to design a $2 cable.

 

[opckieran]

An extra 10-20% would add an extra $50-100 on most high-end mother boards. It wouldn't increase costs for just people people buying those GPUS, it would increase costs for everyone. All because nVidia doesn't know how to design a $2 cable.

$500+ boards are maybe 1% of the market. I’d imagine $120-$180 is the average. For a 5090 build, maybe $300 would be the average spent on a board. That 10-20% figure would be closer to 20% on the low end of the price scale anyways.

 

[kiwigraeme]

Just trying to think of a 600W device as a stand alone with a dinky little power connector

Now I'm a bit rusty on school science resistance is related to length, diameter and resistivity of the material in question - I'm sure nice pure copper

Made some avocado on toast this morning - that had dinky wires

would be interesting to see diameter of wires used, or what minimum specs are

Now compare that to the motherboard power cable - oh they look exactly the same /s

 

[godrilla]

Derbauer's take on it. Hands on with actual cable and gpu. Not user error. FYI

PSU was also damaged fyi.

must watch!

 

[CMP01]

Two vids backing this up so early in the comments is not a good look whatever the exact circumstances.
First got wind of this yesterday posted in Reddit. Someone mentioned GN's review had 5090 FE spiking to 850W... can't verify even if I trust GN as I've been out of the review vid loop of late due to caring somewhat less than usual tbh.

That's close to the sustained power, in one lil connecteroo, that can heat a couple of rooms toasty warm to 20+C (oil filled radiator) in the time it takes to make toast and a cuppa to wash it down. Of course, that's delivered by the wonder of the world and domestic caltrop UK standard plug so...

Honestly, if this becomes a thing again, second gen in a row and even if a minority but very potentially likely issue... well, heck Nvidia and co. Ain't, as the saying goes, nobody got time for that.
Still something to be said for the good old 6+2, of which three used to get close enough to 4080/5080 raster for a grand less spent like for like (7900XTX Sapphire Nitro+) and no issues yet. The only con for me has been that three power cables demands somewhat more attention re cable management, for which drive cages without drives in make good drawers...