New safety plugs were supposed to finally solve the heat problems with Nvidia’s RTX 5090 graphics card, but recent user experiences show the opposite, reports VideoCardz.com.
On Reddit, several users are once again reporting scorched power connections, even though they used the yellow-colored 12V 2×6 connectors from MSI. These are actually supposed to be colored to help ensure that the plug is fully inserted.
In January, Nvidia assured everyone that its new 50-series cards wouldn’t melt power plugs. In February, one Reddit user’s RTX 5090 power connector had melted, prompting YouTube Roman “der8auer” Hartung to investigate and discover clear traces of overheating on two 12VHPWR pins under a microscope. His investigation revealed temperatures of up to 150 degrees Celsius, despite correct installation.
Two more recent cases have emerged
According to recent Reddit threads, MSI security plugs are affected. One user reports that the power connector on his second RTX 5090 within a few weeks has burned again. After the first damage in July, he received a replacement card in August—and the same problem occurred again. According to the user, the GPU was even undervolted.
Another Reddit user describes a similar problem: initially, his system crashed and black screens appeared until it became apparent that the yellow safety plug on his MSI RTX 5090 Gaming Trio was burned.
Both cases show that even correctly plugged-in power adapters are no guarantee against overheating and melting.
Color marking doesn’t address the deeper design problem
According to MSI, the yellow plug tips are intended to enable a simple visual check as to whether the plug is fully seated. However, as the latest reports show, the labeling doesn’t actually address the root cause, which apparently lies in the 12V 2×6 connector’s uneven power distribution.
While previous RTX generations—such as the RTX 30 series—distributed the power supply across multiple lines, the new 12VHPWR and 12V 2×6 adapters route the power through a single source. This can lead to an overload on individual pins, which can overheat and cause melting even if the connector is correctly seated.
These new cases make it clear that colored safety markings alone aren’t an adequate solution. The fundamental issue continues even when everything is done properly. So far, Nvidia hasn’t announced any measures to get this problem under control. For now, users should check their connections regularly for signs of heat or discoloration.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
