RTX 5090 graphics cards experience power‑connector failures in recent tests

During a hardware test in Germany, the 12V‑2x6 power cable of an MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC melted, producing a small smoke plume even though the GPU was idle. The damaged cable required forceful removal, and two of the six pins were severely burnt, causing uneven current flow and damage to the NZXT C1500 power supply.

A separate repair analysis of a Gigabyte RTX 5090 identified a subtle component that can prevent the card from starting, suggesting a design weakness that may affect multiple Gigabyte models. Both incidents echo earlier reports of connector problems with Nvidia’s high‑end GPUs, such as the RTX 4090, and highlight ongoing concerns about the durability of the new 12V‑2x6 connector standard.

Manufacturers have introduced protective cables and sensor pins, but the recent failures indicate that uneven load distribution across pins can still lead to overheating and potential hardware damage.