NVIDIA GPU Power Cable Meltdown Saga Continues: MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Incident
It seems the saga of melting power cables for NVIDIA's high-end graphics cards isn't over yet. Fresh reports are surfacing, and this time, the spotlight is on an MSI GeForce RTX 5090. The frustrating part. Even a cable designed with visual cues to ensure correct installation couldn't prevent the dreaded meltdown.
A user on Reddit shared their unfortunate experience. They were diligent, following all the recommended installation and operating procedures for their powerful new graphics card. The MSI cable it, too, had a peculiar two-tone design with yellow inslets specifically meant to guide users and assist connecting it properly during installation. The idea was fairly simple: If you see yellow, it is not fully plugged in.
Despite the visual sign and users' confidence over the correct cable seating, disaster struck. Their whole setup powered by an over-the-top 1500W Corsair HX1500i PSU-more than enough to throw worries of power shortage out of the equation-fell victim to yet another melting.
The first thing that hit was a sudden notice of "no Display Port signal" on the monitor, followed by all the usual hoops he goes through when such occur, like reinstalling drivers, even reaching out to NVIDIA Support, until the true culprit revealed itself: a melted power cord. Interestingly enough, there appeared no external signs of damage on the graphics card itself, suggesting the cable must have taken the brunt of the electrical fault.
Lingering Doubts About Design Connector
"There are finger-pointings from industry watchers and experts back to the 12VHPWR and its newly introduced pair, the 12V-2x6 power connectors. Concerns still linger that the way the current is distributed among the pins in these connectors may not be stable. The fact that manufacturers like MSI have taken to color coding their cables serves as an underline to their lack of confidence in the efficiency in use and reliability of these connectors, even among the people producing these."
Well now, grieve for it because even with more safety precautions, the melting power connectors will always remain a reality one of these days for some owners of NVIDIA's new chip-disposing powerhouses.
