Even when idle: Nvidia RTX 5090 melts during SSD validation
During a hardware test on a German website with an MSI Geforce RTX 5090, the power cable melted. The graphics card wasn’t even being used to capacity, but was just a ‘spectator’ during the validation of an SSD.
Smoke development at the test stand
It is now known that Nvidia graphics cards have a problem with their power connector. The RTX 5090 in particular occasionally bursts into flames, sometimes spectacularly, even with reduced power consumption. Manufacturers like Corsair have even launched special cables with protective sensors to protect graphics cards from premature death. For the German colleagues at PCMasters, however, any help comes too late. During a hardware test, the 12V 2×6 power cable melted on the MSI Geforce RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC. The card was part of a widely used main test system. While validating an NVMe SSD and multiple reboots with no graphical load, the testers suddenly observed a small cloud of smoke. After a restart, the first malfunctions on the computer appeared.
Like the editorial team of PCMasters reported that the cable could only be separated from the graphics card by force when it was removed. One pin was discolored black and the coating had melted into the remaining wires. Even more serious damage occurred to the NZXT C1500 power supply. The insulation of the cables on the side had completely come loose. At both ends, pins two and four showed the most damage.
Diagnosis via thermal imaging camera
Despite the melted port, the actual graphics card survived the incident for the time being. The editors state that they restarted the system under security precautions, whereupon the operating system recognized the graphics card without errors.
To check the power consumption, they connected a measuring device and observed the temperatures with a thermal imaging camera. A subsequent load test quickly revealed an extremely uneven load distribution. An outer pin heated up significantly faster.
Since two of the six pins were badly damaged by the fire, the voltage probably only flowed through the remaining contacts. After about two minutes, the temperature of the cable jacket reached 50 degrees Celsius. The test was immediately stopped for safety reasons.
According to PCMasters, safe operation of the hardware is no longer possible. The graphics card should now go to the manufacturer MSI for a detailed examination and repair.
The old problem
Melted connectors were already common with the RTX 4090. The PCI-SIG then developed the new 12V 2×6 standard. Power is supplied via twelve main contacts and four smaller data pins. If the cable is not fully plugged in, the shortened data pins lose contact and the power supply switches off. However, the fundamental problem is not necessarily incompletely inserted plugs.
The connection is designed for a power of up to 600 watts. However, the current often flows unevenly across the individual pins, which leads to dangerous overheating. Since the card has no way of ensuring a consistent flow of current and switching off in an emergency, melted connectors often occur.
