Hong Kong-based technology electrical outlet PCM increased alarm systems after examining Nvidia’s RTX 5090 D and RTX 5080, where it ran into 2 thawed 16-pin power line and a fallen short 1,200 W power supply device (PSU). With GPU power needs currently a warm subject, fingers were swiftly sharp at Nvidia’s most recent graphics cards. Nevertheless, a much deeper examination exposed that an old RTX 4090 Creators Version (FE) was in fact in charge of the disaster.
Social network blog posts by PCM, found by UNIKO’s Hardware, recommend that its screening likely included an RTX 4090 Creators Version (FE) prior to examining the RTX 50-series GPUs. While Nvidia has actually currently upgraded the RTX 4090 FE’s power port to the more recent and much safer 12V-2×6 standard, it’s feasible that the device still had the initial, a lot more failure-prone 12VHPWR port.
Throughout screening, both RTX 50 GPUs were pressed to complete tons when the customer discovered system instability, originally believing an SSD failing. Nevertheless, upon closer evaluation, they uncovered indications of melting on the 16-pin GPU power line, resulting in very early supposition that the RTX 50-series could still be susceptible to power port problems.
Additional examination exposed shed marks on the RTX 4090 FE, while the RTX 50 GPUs revealed no damages. This highly recommended that the RTX 4090 FE was in charge of the dissolved wire, not the more recent RTX 50-series cards.
Since the intro of the RTX 4090, several reports have actually recorded 12VHPWR adapters thawing because of inappropriate seats. If the port isn’t completely connected in, it can produce extreme warm, possibly resulting in damages. Nvidia also recognized this threat, suggesting customers to guarantee a company and full link.
Nvidia’s most recent RTX 50-series GPUs in fact utilize a changed 12V-2 × 6 power port, developed to avoid power shipment unless appropriately seated. Lately throughout the Nvidia RTX AI Day 2025 occasion in South Korea, company representatives assured that the problems with the port have actually been fixed in the RTX 50-series. This updated style of the port is planned to decrease the threat of overheating that afflicted the RTX 4090.
To better attend to issues, GPU producers are presenting added precaution. Zotac has actually included a safety and security light attribute for its brand-new RTX 50-series GPUs, which provides an indication if the port is not completely seated. MSI on the various other hand is using 16-pin cable televisions with noticeable yellow signs with its GPUs and PSUs to aid customers verify a safe and secure link.
The lower line is, if you have actually obtained an RTX 4090, confirm your power link as this event reveals inappropriate cabling can still bring about calamity– also long after installment. Luckily, Nvidia’s RTX 50-series seems much better secured versus such problems.