A New Combustion Case Affects a GeForce RTX 5090
The hardware community records an alarming incident where a GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card suffers critical damage. The origin of the problem is located in the 12V-2x6 power connector, which overheats extremely until it burns. This event not only compromises the GPU but also puts vital system components at risk, such as the motherboard or power supply, reopening the debate on the safety of this standard for high-power components 🔥.
The 12V-2x6 Connector Under Scrutiny
Designed to power GPUs with high power requirements, the 12V-2x6 connector shows a significant vulnerability. Analyses suggest that an imperfect coupling or anomalous resistance in the contacts can generate an intense heat source. This thermal energy accumulates, degrading the connector's insulating material and potentially triggering a short circuit or combustion. Despite manufacturers emphasizing the need to connect the cable fully and securely, failure reports continue to appear.
Factors Contributing to the Problem:- Poor Coupling: A cable that does not fit perfectly increases electrical resistance at the contact point.
- High Resistance: Any imperfection in the pins or cable inefficiently converts energy into heat.
- Material Degradation: The connector's plastic does not withstand extreme temperatures and ends up melting or carbonizing.
More power, more problems: a motto that takes on a literally scorching meaning with these episodes.
Cascading Consequences for the System
When the connector fails, the power supply becomes erratic or cuts off abruptly. This not only irreversibly damages the graphics card's internal circuits but can also generate voltage spikes that propagate through the equipment. The frequent result is a systemic failure that renders multiple components unusable simultaneously. For the user, this implies an expensive and technically complex repair, often without warranty coverage if the manufacturer attributes the cause to an installation error.
Commonly Affected Components:- Motherboard: Voltage spikes can damage PCIe power traces and other circuits.
- Power Supply Unit (PSU): It may suffer damage to its protection and regulation circuits.
- RAM Memory and Other Peripherals: Electrical instability can reach other connected modules.
Prevention and Current Context
This recent incident with the RTX 5090 serves as a crucial reminder for hardware enthusiasts. Many users now meticulously check their connections, ensuring that the 12V-2x6 connector cable is firmly and fully inserted, without forced bends near the terminal. The industry is watching to see if design revisions or stricter safety protocols are needed to prevent the pursuit of more performance from carrying this type of material risk. The long-term reliability of these high-power connections remains a pending issue to be definitively resolved ⚠️.