All RTX 5090 GPUs Could Burn Out Due To Imbalanced Power Delivery

Expert Verified By

NVIDIA’s Cable ‘Fix’ Isn’t Fixing Much.

Story Highlight
  • The new 12V-2×6 cable still faces overheating issues, similar to the 12VHPWR, due to fluctuating current from GPU voltage converters.
  • The fluctuating current causes thermal failure and higher resistance at the cable’s contact point, raising temperatures and reducing stability.
  • Testing revealed an imbalance between the cables, connectors, and power supply, affecting GPU stability and life. 

In just a few weeks since the RTX 5090 was released, we’ve already seen a scenario with burned graphics cards similar to the RTX 4090.

Although there have been a few instances, it should be noted that compared to the previous generation, very few graphics cards have been sold, so the likelihood of it occurring is significantly higher.

Why it matters: The fluctuating current can lead to overheating and potential damage to the graphics card, shortening its lifespan and affecting performance. 

The “renewed” 12V-2×6 cables, which were supposed to be the solution to the 12VHPWR issue, are the most affected. We’ve already seen examinations of cable degradation by Der8auer, Buildzoid, and others. Now, let’s see what Igor’s Lab thinks.

According to Igor’s Lab, the RTX 50 cables’ contact area overheating could be caused by a mechanical issue, and the cable itself could also be at fault. As we can see, he has already analyzed similar issues with the RTX 4090, and the 12V-2×6 cable hasn’t made a significant difference.

Igor also points out that the GPU voltage converters produce a fluctuating (pulsed) current rather than a steady direct voltage. Capacitors and filters are used to try to create a continuous voltage that is as stable as possible.

He also believes that NVIDIA’s efforts to reduce the size of its graphics cards have resulted in a lack of a suitable filter system to manage these peaks, which has an impact on its stability and life.

Furthermore, a pulsating current might result in thermal failure and an increase in resistance at the cables’ point of contact. The reason for this is that high-frequency currents flow across the conductors’ surface, reducing their effective area and raising their density, which raises the temperature.

Finally, Igor tested both the MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM and the RTX 5090 Founders Edition to confirm that there are minor balancing concerns between the cables and that changing cables did not result in a significant imbalance.

According to Igor’s conclusion, this imbalance is a combination of the cables themselves, the graphics card connectors, and the power supply.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Intel Develops AI Tool To Evaluate Game Visuals And Measure Impact Of Upscalers In Real-Time

Intel has developed a new AI tool named CGVQM, making it easier to objectively evaluate game visuals and the impact of upscalers on them.

RoboCop Unfinished Business Review Roundup—Satisfying Gunplay Marred By Shoddy NPCs

RoboCop Unfinished Business reviews are out. The scores reveal that the gunplay has improved, but the game falls short in many other aspects.

Silent Hill Creator Confirms Work On His Next Project Has Begun Already

Keiichiro Toyama discussed the future of Bokeh Game Studios in a recent interview, confirming that work on the team's next game is underway.

Ubisoft CEO’s Son Appointed To Lead Tencent-Backed Subsidiary, Sparking Nepotism Concerns

Ubisoft is once again under fire, as its CEO has hired his son to lead the Tencent-backed subsidiary without the necessary experience.

Multiple New Lollipop Chainsaw Games Are In The Works At Dragami Games

Multiple new projects based on the Lollipop Chainsaw IP are now in the works thanks to a collaboration between Dragami and Nada Holdings.