The case of another melted 12VHPWR connector on the RTX 4090 graphics card again raises the question of the reliability of this power solution. Der8auer, a well-known overclocker and technical YouTuber, recently posted a detailed analysis of the issue that occurs during normal gaming. He noted the smell of burnt plastic and subsequently found that the connector was fried between the power supply and the graphics card.
Even though it was a quality build – an Inno3D card with water cooling, undervolting, a ModDIY cable with 16 AWG wires, and a SilverStone 850W power supply – the connector had failed. This suggests that the fault is not in the assembly or the components used, but in the design of the power supply itself.
The main problem lies in the design of the RTX 4090 connector
This confirmed that the current 12VHPWR standard does not allow for current tracking in the individual 12V branches. Thus, the RTX 4000 and 5000 series cards cannot detect that current is passing unevenly between the six pins. This results in overheating and possible gradual connector meltdown.
Der8auer measured significant differences in resistance in his analysis:
- one pin had only 12 milliohms,
- another up to 43 milliohms,
- one pin was not connected at all.
Thus, even with a moderate load, up to 4.6 W of heat can be generated in a small area – enough to damage both the plastic and the metal contacts.
Inconsistent approach of manufacturers to the problem with the 12VHPWR connector
However, the manufacturers’ approach is also striking. While ModDIY offered help and reimbursement, Inno3D refused to take responsibility – even though the card was still under warranty. It claimed that the fault originated outside the GPU, which is technically questionable.
Obviously, this problem cannot be solved on the power supply or cable side – the only effective solution must come from the graphics card manufacturers. Until Nvidia redesigns the connector itself, users will continue to be at risk of damage, no matter how carefully they plug in their build.
At the prices the RTX 4090 is fetching, manufacturers should be expected to be more responsible, technically reliable, and fair in addressing complaints. In its current form, 12VHPWR does not represent a safe solution for high-end graphics cards – and each successive case only confirms this.