A PC gamer has reported losing a high-end GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card after its 12-pin power adapter melted. The user shared the experience on Reddit, noting that their $3,000 graphics card suddenly stopped working. The incident has renewed discussions in the gaming community about the safety and design of power cables for modern, high-power graphics cards.
The graphics card owner explained that their computer had been running without issues for 11 months before failing. The first symptoms were CPU errors displayed on the motherboard, which initially made the user suspect a faulty power supply, CPU, or cooler. Because they did not notice any burning smells or external damage, they did not check the graphics card.
The melted cable was only discovered after they took the PC to a local repair shop for professional troubleshooting. The owner had previously installed the card in systems like the Razer Blade 18 with RTX 5090 or similar high-end desktop configurations.
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According to the user’s post, the damage was caused by a melted 12-pin power adapter supplied by MSI. While the connector on the graphics card itself did not show critical visible damage, the power cable connector had completely melted at its base. The user is now preparing to initiate a return merchandise authorization (RMA) process to get a replacement card.
However, they expressed concern over the turnaround time, citing negative feedback from other builders regarding MSI’s customer support.
Melted power connectors have been a recurring issue for high-end graphics cards since the introduction of the high-power 12-pin connection standard. While newer revisions aim to improve the connector fit, cases of melting still occur if the cable is bent too tightly or not fully inserted.
Tech communities recommend that owners of high-end graphics cards regularly inspect their power cables to ensure they are seated securely and show no signs of heat damage. Gamers facing similar issues should contact their graphics card manufacturer immediately to request a warranty replacement.
Source: Reddit
