# NVIDIA GPU power connector melting incidents

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nvidia-gpu-power-connector-melting-incidents
> Updated: 2026-09-28T06:10:38.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

Reports have emerged regarding melting power connectors on high-end NVIDIA graphics cards. In one instance, an RTX 4090 user reported damage to an official Gigabyte-branded 12VHPWR adapter, noting that the melting occurred even though the card’s power draw had been manually limited to 80% of its maximum capacity.

In a separate incident involving an RTX 5090, a consumer reported a melted 12V-2x6 power connector while the system was idling. PNY denied the resulting warranty claim, asserting that coverage only applies to damage occurring with ‘PNY-approved cables or adapters’. This has led to criticism regarding the clarity of manufacturer warranty policies and the stability of high-power connectors.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-28: RTX 4090 adapter experiences melting damage despite power limits

An RTX 4090 user reported a melting 12VHPWR adapter despite limiting the GPU's power draw to 80% and using an official Gigabyte adapter.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rtx-4090-adapter-experiences-melting-damage-despite-power-limits

### 2026-09-24: PNY denies RTX 5090 warranty claim over melted power connector

PNY has denied a warranty claim for a melted RTX 5090 after a user utilized a native cable from an ASRock power supply instead of a PNY-approved adapter, sparking a debate over warranty terms.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pny-denies-warranty-for-burned-rtx-5090-over-power-cable-use

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Cite as: NVIDIA GPU power connector melting incidents. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nvidia-gpu-power-connector-melting-incidents