Studies of melting 12VHPWR energy connectors surfaced virtually instantly following the launch of the RTX 4090 again in October 2022. The difficulty was speculated to have been put to relaxation after Nvidia investigated the difficulty and launched revised fashions that includes the up to date 12V-2×6 connector, however it’s nonetheless rearing its ugly melted head within the 12 months and a half because it launched.
NorthridgeFix, a Los Angeles primarily based electronics restore firm estimated it obtained round 200 playing cards and adapters with melted connectors over a interval of only one month. NorthridgeFix would not state whether or not the issue playing cards function the older or newer connectors.
Just lately, CableMod issued a recall of its authentic V1.0 and up to date V1.1 angled 12VHPWR adapters as a result of threat of a hearth hazard. Nevertheless, the video above factors out that the CableMod adapter are literally “an excellent product” and that even adapters with the very best high quality supplies can fail if the muse they’re constructed on is defective.
The precise reason behind the failures was exhausting to determine as failures had been tough to duplicate. Early investigations pointed in the direction of Astron made connectors being extra susceptible to failure, whereas different studies prompt the connectors weren’t absolutely inserted, or the cables themselves had been bent.
Personally, I will not be making an attempt to duplicate something with my RTX 4090, thanks very a lot.
The obvious randomness of the failures would add weight to NorthridgeFix’s declare that early revisions of the RTX 4090 connector design itself is guilty. I’ve an RTX 4090 Founders Version, and I continuously swap it out and in of my primary take a look at rig. Nevertheless, I do go away the 12VHPWR adapter put in, and unplug it from the 4 8-pin energy connectors from my energy provide. The cardboard has by no means had a problem—I hope I did not simply jinx it.
The revised 12V-2×6 connector has shorter sensing pins whereas the conductor terminals are longer. This helps to make sure the cable has been correctly inserted. It is also again suitable with present 12VHPWR connectors and cables. Energy provides and cables with the 12V-2×6 connector are already showing out there. At the very least some RTX-40 collection playing cards have additionally included the brand new connector.
Nvidia is definitely paying consideration. Let’s hope that upcoming RTX 50-series playing cards keep away from this drawback altogether. Curiously, AMD and Intel have proven no real interest in adopting the 12VHPWR commonplace up to now. Will their next-gen providing make the transfer to 12V-2×6, although?