GeForce RTX 5090 Power Cable Melts on Both Ends Despite 70% Power Limit

An NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card has suffered a melted power cable on both ends despite being power-limited to 70% and undervolted. The user reported the failure online, showing thermal damage to both the 16-pin graphics card connector and the dual 8-pin connectors at the power supply. The incident occurred with a Corsair SF1000 power supply and a proprietary Corsair power cable.

According to the report, the user limited the graphics card’s maximum power consumption to 402.5 watts to prevent overheating. Even with this precaution, the cable melted at the graphics card port and where the dual 8-pin connectors plug into the power supply. This dual-sided melting points to high thermal stress across the entire length of the cable rather than a loose connection at a single port.

Melted dual 8-pin connectors on the Corsair power supply cable side.
Melted dual 8-pin connectors on the PSU end of the Corsair power cable.

Also read: ASUS ProArt GeForce RTX 5090 OC Price and Specifications

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While previous connector issues on high-end graphics cards were often blamed on loose user installation at the graphics card port, this case presents a different scenario. The dual 8-pin connectors at the power supply side do not typically suffer from melting issues, making the simultaneous damage on both ends unusual. Some hardware specialists suggest that load balancing issues within the RTX 50 series circuit boards could be pushing extra current through the cables.

The RTX 5090 Founders Edition has a default power limit that can draw over 575 watts under full load. Similar to custom models like the ASUS ProArt RTX 5090 OC, users often adjust power limits to run the graphics card safely. The fact that the cable still melted indicates that hardware configurations using these high-draw graphics cards may experience high thermal stress even when running well below peak specifications.

For users running new-generation graphics cards, using certified ATX 3.0 power supplies and limiting power draw may not offer complete protection against connector failures. Hardware manufacturers like Corsair and NVIDIA have not yet issued official statements regarding these dual-sided cable melts. Graphics card owners are advised to regularly inspect both ends of their power connections for signs of heat discoloration.

Source: Reddit

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