Melting GeForce RTX 4090 energy cables: A timeline of occasions

Nvidia’s stunning GeForce RTX 4090 wowed reviewers and plan a new bar for correct how stupidly snappily a graphics card would be. Unfortunately, the commence of the $1,600 GPU has been marred by loads of reviews of melting 12VHPWR connectors old within the cards negative both the connector and the GPUs every so often.

The new 12VHPWR connector is a compact energy connector that mixes the replacement of loads of older 6- and eight-pin connectors into one minute walk. It became within the origin adopted with the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti Founders Edition and is now old within the GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition as successfully as customized versions of the RTX 4090 constructed by the likes of Asus, MSI, et cetera. The 12VHPWR connector became also old in newer RTX 40-series graphics cards treasure the RTX 4080 and RTX 4070 Ti, despite the indisputable fact that no longer in AMD’s Radeon RX 7000-series GPUs.

Update: Primarily the latest updates we’ve added to the saga of the melting 12VHWPR connectors revolves round Intel a limited bit revising the ATX 3.0 energy provide spec to counsel explicit kinds of internal connectors for added reliability.

With this snappily-transferring, confusing, and also very important scream, PCWorld has made up our minds to round up the info you possess to know to wait on separate fact from fiction. Nvidia officials possess declined to comment while it investigates, but essentially the latest pattern appear to level to abominable 12VHPWR adapter cables. There’s also the likelihood that no longer completely inserting the cable would possibly well perchance plan off increased resistance and ample heat to melt the connectors. We’ll substitute this story as new info is launched.

• Sept. 10 Hassan Mujtaba of WCCFTech reviews of an alert issued from PCI-SIG to contributors of a “thermal variance, which would maybe perchance well perchance result in safety disorders under clear safety stipulations.” The member alert advises distributors to “work closely with their connector distributors and inform due diligence in using high-energy connections”

• Sept. 14 The fat electronic mail and further important parts from the PCI-SIG are reported by Stephen Burke of Gamers Nexus and notes that “screw ups possess been noticed in clear cable routing stipulations from PSUs and take a look at boards that generate aspect load on the interface.” Burke acknowledged the myth—it sounds as if created by Nvidia—from PCI-SIG showed three assorted manufacturers possess been examined with 10 sample assemblies with screw ups manifesting from 10 hours to 30 hours with melting. It’s rate bringing up that the internal myth appears to consult the connection on the PSU aspect—no longer the GPU aspect. In primary, on the opposite hand, ATX 3.0 energy provides PCWorld possess seen mask the cables to be identical on both ends.

Brad Chacos/IDG

• Sept. 22 VideoCardz’s editor WhyCry reviews that GPU maker Zotac’s guidance on the brand new 12VHPWR connector is rated for 30-insertion cycles which raises alarms as to the lifespan and sturdiness of the brand new connector. VideoCardz later amends its myth to shriek that while 30 cycles appears very low, many Molex connectors presented over the final 20 years possess had identical mating cycles.

• Oct. 24 The first myth of a melted 12HPWR connector is posted on the Nvidia sub-reddit. The GPU appears to be a Gigabyte 4090 Gaming OC using an Nvidia-branded 12VHPWR adapter cable. Both Nvidia and Gigabyte attain out to the proprietor who reviews a replacement card has been got. A 2nd myth of a melted dongle is got as successfully on that day with hurt to the adapter cable and an Asus RTX 4090 TUF Gaming OC Edition occurring. The Reddit post straight goes viral on the high-profile graphics card with many assuming the brand new connector to be at fault.

• Oct. 24 A few hours after the initial melting myth on Reddit, renowned energy provide reviewer and the precept within the encourage of PSU certification firm Cybenetics, Aristeidis Bitziopoulos, attempts to replicate the melting 12VHPWR connector by subjecting it to 600 watt loads for bigger than 90 minutes. He’s unable to hurt the cable while seeing ultimate a minute thermal variance. It must be famed that the take a look at old a local 12VHPWR cable on an ATX 3.0 energy provide rather then Nvidia’s adapter. Bitziopoulos concludes the 12VHPWR connector doesn’t appear to be a scream in his testing.

• Oct. 24 Overclocker Buildzoid of Truly Hardware Overclocking, posts a video criticizing the brand new 12VHPWR connector noting that the brand new connector greatly reduces the style of pins and wires carrying energy.

• Oct. 25. With screw ups now reported at three,  Nvidia officials expose the Verge’s Tom Warren that “we’re investigating the reviews” and are in contact with the owners of the impacted cards. 

• Oct. 25 Primitive HardOCP editor Kyle Bennett reviews AMD’s upcoming RDNA3 GPUs will not inform the 12VHWPR connector in its reference designs. Neither Bennett, nor his sources at AMD mask when the manufacture resolution became made to skip 12VHPWR.

• Oct. 25 Exhibiting what a distraction the 12VHPWR has change into, AMD’s Scott Herkelman publicly confirms the brand new Radeon cards will skip 12VHPWR and receives responses reminiscent of “That is a HUGE assist, happy with that news.”

• Oct. 26 The first rate Reddit megathread checklist displaying documented screw ups now numbers 5 damaged 12VHWPR connectors.

• Oct. 26 Jason Langiven, aka JayzTwoCents, who has prolonged been important of the connector being “dreadful,” attempts to replicate the failure on a local 12VHWPR cable and is unable to induce a failure on the cable under heavy loads.

Brad Chacos/IDG

• Oct. 27 Igor Wallossek of IgorsLab.de conducts a race down and failure take a look at of a 12VHPWR energy adapter and concludes that the scream doesn’t appear to be the 12VHPWR manufacture itself nor the necessary-touted insertion cycle scream raised beforehand. In its assign, Wallossek concludes it is miles the manufacture of Nvidia’s adapter itself, which he describes as “defective quality (and) can lead to screw ups and has already precipitated hurt in single cases.” Wallossek acknowledged he believes bending and kinking of the adapter can plan off dilapidated solder joints and bridges to interrupt and make higher the resistance inflicting the melting.

• Oct. 28 Ronaldo Buassali of TecLab.web.br posts his hold failure tests, including swinging a energy provide using correct the connector and subjecting to a stress take a look at of 1,532—successfully beyond its rated sustained wattage of 600 watts.

• Oct. 29 The style of confirmed damaged connectors on Reddit now numbers 15.

• Oct. 30 Stephen Burke of Gamers Nexus attempts to replicate the melting failure by intentionally negative a 12VHPWR adapter linked to what IgorsLab.de had reported and subjected it to a 99 p.c load for 8 hours and not using a melting noticed. Burke also notes that his 5 adapters all appear to be constructed the identical—and yet in a completely different scheme than the adapter IgorsLab had. Burke acknowledged his 5 12VHWPR adapters inform wires labeled for 300 volts versus the 150 volts the adapter Wallossek had. Burke concludes that we correct don’t know what the scream is, on the opposite hand it is miles an valid anguish on some adapters—but no longer all of them. He also mentions a idea being floated that the smaller connector would possibly well perchance no longer with out problems seat as successfully because the higher primitive energy connectors. He also parts out that contrary to what many consumers imagine, a local connector that plugs directly valid into a energy provide would possibly well perchance furthermore fail the identical manner if the native cable is constructed the identical because the failed adapters. Burke also asks owners of RTX 4090 cards to myth which cable adapters they’ve.

• Oct. 30 With news that there appear to be assorted 12VHPWR adapters being supplied, Stephen Burke of Gamer’s Nexus reviews by strategy of Twitter that of the 130 emails he has got, 7 p.c of householders myth they’ve the 150V cabling that became old in IgorsLab’s adapter cable. Burke notes that while the cable marking would possibly well perchance instruct 150V, that ultimate manner it makes inform of the identical apparent spec cables—and does not mask they’re can possess the low-quality solder joints that IgorsLab stumbled on. Burke also notes that of the 130, “no longer many are burned.”

• Oct. 30 Andreas Schilling of Hardwareluxx.de conducts his hold ballotof forum contributors who possess purchased RTX 4090 cards. He reviews that 12 possess a 4-pins-to-12VHPWR adapter marked “300V.” One has a 3-pins-to-12VHPWR marked “150V,” and two other individuals possess 4-pins-to-12VHPWR marked “150V.”

• Nov. 1 Ronaldo Buassali of TecLab.web.br posts a longer video of testing from the authentic reside tear with further explanations of how he examined the 12VHPWR. Not like many of the testing to this level, which old right GeForce RTX 4090 cards, Buassali physically gets rid of the 12VHPWR connector from the GPU and wires it up for stress testing. This lets Buassali push the connector meeting successfully past the 600 watts known as for, including a good deal of 900 watts, 1,200 watts and 1,500 watts. Buassali’s conclusion? The 12VHPWR connector itself is “successfully sized, so necessary so that it supported necessary bigger than its specification.” On the opposite hand, Buassali concludes that despite the indisputable fact that the connector can take care of bigger than it’s rated for, a poorly inserted connector that creates resistance would possibly well perchance indeed be within the encourage of the melting of the connector. Buassali also doesn’t rule out a batch of abominable cables, but that implies a producing scream, no longer a manufacture anguish.

• Nov. 2 Jon Gerow, director of R&D at Corsair and beforehand of Jonnyguru.com, posts outcomes from intentionally damaged 12VHPWR cable adapters under load and is unable to induce melting as successfully. Gerow became ready to supply loads of 12VHPWR adapter cables for detrimental testing, and despite breaking off solder joints, he became unable to induce melting or a failure. He did mask that about a of the adapters weren’t constructed very successfully but even the worst of the batch passed stress testing with out failing. Gerow concludes that about a of the complications can possess befell when the owners didn’t completely seat the 12VHPWR adapter cables and also posts photos of installed PCs where even a minute gap of 1 mm would possibly well perchance result in increased resistance.

• Nov. 3 AMD formally proclaims its RDNA3-basically based Radeon 7900XT and Radeon 7900XTX and proudly notes that it did no longer inform 12VHPWR connections. On the opposite hand, the firm parts out that the primary perception that it changed its designs ultimate after the melting complications cropped up about a weeks within the past shouldn’t be any longer elegant. AMD made the resolution to persist with out of date 8-pin energy connectors bigger than a 365 days within the past.

• Nov. 4 A brand new post within the Nvidia subreddit, taken from a Fb post of a Hong Kong-basically based RTX 4090 proprietor, is the first reported damaged 12VHPWR cable from a local cable plugged directly valid into a energy provide. Old to this myth, the total reported disorders had ultimate befell in 12VHPWR adapter cables, no longer native cables. The following day, one more particular person reviews a melted connector using a local 12VHPWR cable from an ATX 3.0 energy provide. This appears to dawdle hopes that a local walk would resolve the anguish.

• Nov 7 The style of confirmed failed connectors now numbers 23 on the Reddit megathread, with disorders unfold amongst many graphics card makers. Oddly, there are no longer any Nvidia Founders Edition cards listed with screw ups. There are also 5 unconfirmed cases listed from other board makers as successfully.

• Nov. 7 VideoCardz editor WhyCry reviews that a particular person on Reddit has been told his or her Gainward GeForce RTX 4090 shall be delayed till the center of November because it waits for replacement 12VHPWR adapter cables. The email, despatched from Australian PC firm Techfast to a customer, acknowledged “While investigations are restful continuing and Nvidia has no longer launched a public assertion, Gainward has told us that cables shipped with their cards will (are) being changed. In consequence, they’re holding starting up of all cards till this has taken spot. We also label this cable replacement is maybe no longer limited to Gainward alone.” PCWorld reached out to Techfast who confirmed the authenticity of the electronic mail.

• Nov. 8 Regardless of Australian PC builder Techfast confirming an electronic mail despatched to potentialities saying some RTX 4090 cards would be delayed while Gainward ships replacement cables and implying other GPU makers would attain the identical, Gainward’s EU Fb web page says that shouldn’t be any longer the case and has issued a clarification. “There would possibly be wrong info suggesting Gainward is delaying the RTX 4090 shipment to interchange the cables recently. Here we would resolve to clarify that—Gainward shouldn’t be any longer holding any RTX 40 shipment to interchange the cables, and has no idea to attain so. The cables Gainward for the time being old on the RTX 40 possess been inspected by NVIDIA group and stumbled on no disorders. All Gainward shipment is being made as bizarre. Please don’t hesitate to obtain the Gainward graphics cards at the same time as you happen to idea to buy one!”

• Nov. 11 UK hardware spot KitGuru receives an substitute from Nvidia that it is continuing to analyze the scream. “”We proceed to analyze the reviews, on the opposite hand we don’t possess further important parts to allotment yet. NVIDIA and our partners are dedicated to supporting our potentialities and guaranteeing an expedited RMA task for them,” KitGuru says by strategy of Twitter.

• Nov. 13 There are in point of fact 26 confirmed GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs with melted connectors documented within the Nvidia subreddit including for the first time, a myth of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition with a melted connector.

• Nov 14 Igor Wallossek of Igorslab.de confirms there are no longer any no longer as a lot as two manufacturers of the Nvidia supplied adapter plugs with undoubtedly one of the necessary adapters reputedly using a rougher casting making insertions more sophisticated. Wallossek, who acknowledged he has spoken with Nvidia’s director of engineering Gabriele Gorla, doesn’t blame end users, but does imagine the rougher castings would possibly well perchance presumably possess lead some potentialities to to rock the 12VHWPR connector into the socket which would be why so many reviews mask melted connectors starting from one aspect of the connector with few to none melting from the center. The answer, Wallossek acknowledged, would possibly well perchance mask the PCI SIG must scream guidance on retain out zones to present consumers better web entry to to the socket to directly inserting it rather then rocking the connectors in from one aspect. Wallossek also notes that of the two adapter cables old supplied by Nvidia, one manufacture ultimate grabs pins on two facets while the opposite manufacture grabs pins on all four facets.

• Nov. 16 In an exhaustive investigation relying on third-celebration failure analysis using X-ray examination as successfully as electron microscope exam, as successfully as reproducing the screw ups, Gamers Nexus’ EIC Stephen Burke concludes particles internal the connectors from manufacturing or from insertion as successfully as improperly seating the cables is basically within the encourage of many of the screw ups seen. Burke also cites numbers from a dealer that the likelihood of failure is from 0.05 to .1 p.c at this level. Even supposing improperly seating the cables while inserting it under stress appears to web many of the blame, Burke also wonders if the manufacture of the connector shouldn’t possess anticipated the disorders.

• Nov. 16 Tom’s Hardware reviews that a GeForce RTX 4090 proprietor has filed a class-action within the US District Court for the Northern District Court of California over the melting connectors. Filed by Lucas Genova on Nov. 11, the swimsuit alleges Nvidia “marketed and sold the RTX 4090 with a depraved and dreadful energy cable walk and socket, which has rendered consumers’ cards inoperable and poses a important electrical and fireside hazard for every and every purchaser,” in accordance with the Tom’s Hardware myth.

• Nov. 17 Looking to pour a chunk salt into the injuries of its competitor, AMD officials possess been touting their fortune of no longer enforcing the brand new 12VHPWR connector in its upcoming Radeon 7000-series of cards.

• Nov. 18 After weeks of mostly silence, Nvidia in a roundabout scheme disorders an announcement that it has got 50 identified reviews of melted connectors and after analyzing the returned cables, has largely stumbled on depraved insertion to be the seemingly plan off, in accordance with a myth by Gamers Nexus. The firm also poured chilly water on constructing scream that inform of third-celebration 12VHPWR cables would void warranties. The firm told Gamers Nexus EIC Stephen Burke that it would honor warranties linked to the disorders and would expedite the RMA task. While depraved insertion would mask user error for the period of installation of the the cards is guilty, Nvidia also told Gamers Nexus it is attempting at programs to beef up the connectors that became homologated by the PCI-SIG.

• Nov. 18 The first rate Nvidia Reddit megathread closes out its logging of reported incidents which appear to drop off after Gamers Nexus video and Nvidia’s first rate plan. On the opposite hand, one Reddit user posts a image of a melted RTX 4090 12VHPWR connector within the PCMR subreddit on Nov. 24.

• Dec. 1 With scream over melting 12VHPWR connectors vastly subsiding after reviews that depraved insertion is seemingly the important plan off, the PCI SIG releases an announcement reminding other individuals that its spec addresses interoperability, no longer safety, and every member is guilty for their very hold products. “PCI-SIG needs to galvanize upon all Participants that manufacture, market or promote PCI-SIG technologies (including 12VHPWR connections) of the possess to resolve on all appropriate and prudent measures to make certain that end user safety, including testing for the reported anguish cases engaging consumers as alleged within the above-referenced lawsuit. Participants are reminded that PCI-SIG specifications provide important technical info for interoperability and assign no longer are attempting to address elegant manufacture, manufacturing suggestions, provides, safety testing, safety tolerances or workmanship. When enforcing a PCI-SIG specification, Participants are guilty for the manufacture, manufacturing, and testing, including safety testing, of their products.”

• Feb. 2023 Intel releases a minor substitute to the ATX 3.0 spec that recommends that energy provide distributors inform internal connections using spring-type rather then dimple-type connections. Intel acknowledged it did this because the suggestion of connection corporations themselves because the spring-type manufacture provides more surface home. The plenty of connection suggestion, on the opposite hand, does no longer mandate it for all, and older dimple-style connectors can persevered to be old if a energy provide dealer chooses to. Present energy provides using dimple-style connectors also attain no longer possess to web changed—they work as anticipated if inserted wisely.

Writer: Gordon Mah Ung, Govt Editor