Nvidia RTX 5090 Power Cable Melts, Bulge At PSU
Tech enthusiasts have been grappling with a concerning issue: the Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics card’s power cable is melting at both ends, causing damage to both the card and the power supply unit (PSU). This latest incident, reported by Redditor “Roachard,” involved an MSI RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC, purchased for over $3,000. Roachard paired it with a Corsair SF1000L PSU and an Asus Strix B650E-I motherboard, both of which are high-end, 80 Plus Platinum-certified components. Despite using quality gear, the power cable melted at both the GPU and PSU connectors.
Roachard did not use any extensions, and his system wasn’t overclocked. Initially, he thought the damage was confined to the GPU side. However, he later discovered a bulging and melted connector on the PSU side. The damage included a white, burned cable, raising concerns about the overall safety of these power setups.
Previous Incidents and Possible Causes
This is not the first time similar issues have been reported. A similar incident occurred in February, where a third-party 12VHPWR cable caused damage to both the RTX 5090 card and the PSU. The cable, from Moddiy, was believed to be at fault, but the design itself was rated for up to 600W and supported the updated 12V-2X6 standard. Despite this, Roachard used the original 12VHPWR cable that came with his PSU, assuming it would be safer. Unfortunately, the damage still occurred.
Several RTX 5090 cables and PSUs have melted in the past, and this is not an isolated issue. A few cases have also involved the RTX 5080. These incidents are reminiscent of similar problems with the RTX 4090, which were mostly attributed to the 12VHPWR cable not being fully inserted due to its stiffness.
Heat and Power Distribution Problems
One of the main culprits for these failures is poor power distribution. Earlier this year, overclocker Der8auer replicated a melting incident using a Corsair 12VHPWR cable. He found that some wires in the cable were carrying excessive amounts of current—more than 20 amps—while others barely carried 2 amps. This uneven power load led to overheating and, ultimately, the melting of connectors and cables.
While not all RTX 5090 users are affected, these incidents highlight potential concerns about the longevity and safety of high-powered systems. It remains to be seen whether Nvidia will address these issues with future updates or design revisions.
