We thought we had seen the last of the issues with Nvidia’s 12VHPWR connector used for the RTX 40-series. However, it seems that the problems are not over, and the latest incident is significantly different.
While previous cases of connector melting affected Nvidia-supplied cables, this time things are different. A Reddit user reported that their custom CableMod connector melted, undermining previous theories about the root of the problem.
Humble-Brilliant-654 / Reddit
It’s been a while since the first report of Nvidia’s RTX 4090 and its melting cables. Each case was quite similar – the connector melted when the GPU was running for long periods of time. Sometimes the card itself was damaged in the process. In response to the issue, Nvidia collected the affected cards for research.
The general consensus – echoed by Nvidia itself – was that the problem stemmed from the cable not being positioned correctly. The RTX 4090 itself is massive, as is the 16-pin power connector. As a result, some builders had to bend their connectors to install the GPU, causing a faulty connection. Many tech experts have opined on this. Some suggested that only one of Nvidia’s cable manufacturers caused these problems, while others wrote it all off as user error.
Ultimately, there weren’t many instances of connector melting, but each one was loud enough to give Nvidia a bit of a bad name nonetheless. The connector is also present on other RTX 40 series cards, such as the RTX 4080.
When the problem was first reported, CableMod quickly jumped on it and began sharing their plans for a custom 12VHPWR connector that was supposed to solve the problem. The adapter plugs into a 16-pin connector and can be positioned at a 90-degree angle, which takes cable bending out of the equation. In theory, this should be enough for the connector to fit properly, but unfortunately, in this case it was not.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
A Reddit user shared pictures of his custom CableMod 12VHPWR connector. According to the unfortunate user, they had been using it for two months when suddenly their computer started shutting down. This happened only in moments of high energy consumption. The Redditor then checked the cable and found that it was completely melted. Fortunately, the GPU was not damaged.
While the user claims to have installed the card as intended (a click was heard when they plugged it in), some users in the comments insist that it may not have been pushed in all the way. This shows that even CableMod’s custom connector may not be able to overcome how difficult these connectors are to handle compared to previous generations of GPUs. It also highlights how important it is to double or triple check that yours is properly connected if you own one of Nvidia’s top graphics cards.
Fortunately for users, CableMod was quick to respond and offer help. The company has made it clear that it will even replace the GPU if necessary. The less happy news is that there doesn’t seem to be any way to avoid the problem entirely, as even this custom connector failed to prevent it completely.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn