A familiar issue has resurfaced, causing headaches for high-end NVIDIA graphics card users. A handful of GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition owners and content creators have taken to social media, sounding the alarm over an unsettling problem: overheating emanating from the card’s 600W connector. In a story that echoes their experiences, Reddit user “ivan6953” reported a “burning smell” during gameplay and found that their third-party MODDIY 12VHPWR cable had melted around one of its pins, triggering a wave of concern among the PC gaming community.
The community isn’t new to this; similar trouble plagued the RTX 4090 GPUs with their 12VHPWR power connectors when they launched in late 2022. Back then, the connectors overheated, and cables melted, presenting a serious fire hazard that lingered for months. Initially, the blame fell on bent cables and loose connections. To combat this, third-party power supply companies switched to 12VHPWR cables with colored tips, simplifying the setup process for even those new to custom PC building. NVIDIA also touted an internal redesign in the form of its 12V-2×6 connector as a safety upgrade. So, why are we facing the same problem again?
Tech YouTuber and PC expert der8auer has been diving deep into NVIDIA’s latest RTX 5000 GPUs, particularly exploring the 12VHPWR cable issues linked to the RTX 5090. He first noticed some peculiarities after hooking up a Corsair 12VHPWR cable to his RTX 5090 Founders Edition GPU. Using a thermal imaging camera, he confirmed uneven loads across the cables. His findings, which he shared in a recent video, include an investigation into Reddit user ivan6953’s equipment.
Their GPU and PSU sockets suffered from heat damage, with the cable itself severely affected — melted plastic and sleeving were present at both ends. Alarmingly, one cable in the bundle bore the worst of it, hinting at unequal power distribution. Although many were quick to blame the third-party MODDIY cable used by ivan6953, der8auer’s deeper analysis suggests the issue ran deeper. He found that the 12VHPWR cable couldn’t handle the RTX 5090’s power demands, leading to the damage. He pointed out that while the RTX 4080 comfortably fits these connectors, the higher-powered 4090 and 5090 really need two connections to ensure safe operation.
After discussing with ivan6953, der8auer determined it wasn’t a mere user mistake. Ivan6953, who has extensive PC knowledge, consistently ensured the cable was fully plugged in each time.
In a fresh video, der8auer backs his initial findings. He’s not alone in these revelations; others have also identified similar problems with the 12VHPWR cables reminiscent of the RTX 4090 issues. Der8auer emphasizes the root of the problem: unlike older NVIDIA models and modern AMD GPUs, the RTX 40 and 50 series can’t monitor how power distributes across the pins. He contrasts this with the RTX 3090 Ti, which uses a three-way split for 12V power, allowing for better load balancing.
The underlying issue points to NVIDIA’s power distribution design. Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward fix unless NVIDIA revamps its design. Until then, picking top-quality hardware, ensuring proper cable connections, and hoping for the best might be the most feasible strategy for users concerned about this recurring issue.
