Nvidia’s glorious GeForce RTX 4090 wowed reviewers and set a brand new bar for simply how stupidly immediate a graphics card might be. Sadly, the release of the $1,600 GPU has been marred by means of more than one studies of melting 12VHPWR connectors used within the playing cards harmful each the connector and the GPUs from time to time.
The brand new 12VHPWR connector is a compact persistent connector that mixes the potential of more than one older 6- and 8-pin connectors into one tiny plug. It used to be at the beginning followed with the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti Founders Version and is now used within the GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Version in addition to customized variations of the RTX 4090 constructed by means of the likes of Asus, MSI, et cetera. The 12VHPWR connector used to be additionally utilized in more recent RTX 40-series graphics cards just like the RTX 4080 and RTX 4070 Ti, despite the fact that now not in AMD’s Radeon RX 7000-series GPUs.
Updates:
Experiences of melting connectors had in large part subsided however a spate of melted adapters the usage of third-party CableMod has cropped with the corporate pronouncing it has won 20 studies with the vast majority of the issue most likely being improperly inserted adapters.
The GeForce proprietor who sued Nvidia claiming the playing cards are faulty has requested the court docket to brush aside his go well with with prejudice.
Whilst maximum melted connectors have came about at the GPU, one Reddit poster is reporting a melted PSU this time.
With this fast-moving, complicated, and likewise very severe scenario, PCWorld has made up our minds to spherical up the info you wish to know to lend a hand separate truth from fiction. Nvidia officers have declined to remark whilst it investigates, however the most recent building appear to indicate to dangerous 12VHPWR adapter cables. There’s additionally the likelihood that now not totally placing the cable might reason larger resistance and sufficient warmth to soften the connectors. We’ll replace this tale as new knowledge is launched.
- Sept. 10 Hassan Mujtaba of WCCFTech reports of an alert issued from PCI-SIG to participants of a “thermal variance, which might lead to issues of safety underneath positive protection prerequisites.” The member alert advises distributors to “paintings intently with their connector distributors and workout due diligence in the usage of high-power connections”
- Sept. 14 The whole electronic mail and extra main points from the PCI-SIG are reported by means of Stephen Burke of Players Nexus and notes that “disasters had been noticed in positive cable routing prerequisites from PSUs and take a look at forums that generate aspect load at the interface.” Burke mentioned the file—it seems that created by means of Nvidia—from PCI-SIG confirmed 3 other producers had been examined with 10 pattern assemblies with disasters manifesting from 10 hours to 30 hours with melting. It’s price mentioning that the interior file turns out to confer with the relationship at the PSU aspect—now not the GPU aspect. Normally, on the other hand, ATX 3.0 persistent provides PCWorld have observed point out the cables to be an identical on each ends.
Brad Chacos/IDG
- Sept. 22 VideoCardz’s editor WhyCry reports that GPU maker Zotac’s steerage at the new 12VHPWR connector is rated for 30-insertion cycles which raises alarms as to the lifespan and sturdiness of the brand new connector. VideoCardz later amends its file to mention that whilst 30 cycles seems very low, many Molex connectors offered over the past twenty years have had identical mating cycles.
- Oct. 24 The primary report of a melted 12HPWR connector is posted at the Nvidia sub-reddit. The GPU seems to be a Gigabyte 4090 Gaming OC the usage of an Nvidia-branded 12VHPWR adapter cable. Each Nvidia and Gigabyte succeed in out to the landlord who studies a alternative card has been won. A 2d file of a melted dongle is won as smartly on that day with harm to the adapter cable and an Asus RTX 4090 TUF Gaming OC Version happening. The Reddit publish right away is going viral at the high-profile graphics card with many assuming the brand new connector to be at fault.
- Oct. 24 A couple of hours after the preliminary melting file on Reddit, famend persistent provide reviewer and the primary at the back of PSU certification corporate Cybenetics, Aristeidis Bitziopoulos, attempts to replicate the melting 12VHPWR connector by means of subjecting it to 600 watt rather a lot for greater than 90 mins. He’s not able to wreck the cable whilst seeing just a small thermal variance. It will have to be famous that the take a look at used a local 12VHPWR cable on an ATX 3.0 persistent provide quite than Nvidia’s adapter. Bitziopoulos concludes the 12VHPWR connector doesn’t appear to be a topic in his trying out.
- Oct. 24 Overclocker Buildzoid of In reality {Hardware} Overclocking, posts a video criticizing the brand new 12VHPWR connector noting that the brand new connector greatly reduces the collection of pins and wires wearing persistent.
- Oct. 25. With disasters now reported at 3, Nvidia officers tell the Verge’s Tom Warren that “we’re investigating the studies” and are in touch with the homeowners of the impacted playing cards.
- Oct. 25 Former HardOCP editor Kyle Bennett reports AMD’s upcoming RDNA3 GPUs won’t use the 12VHWPR connector in its reference designs. Neither Bennett, nor his resources at AMD point out when the design resolution used to be made to skip 12VHPWR.
- Oct. 25 Appearing what a distraction the 12VHPWR has transform, AMD’s Scott Herkelman publicly confirms the brand new Radeon playing cards will skip 12VHPWR and receives responses equivalent to “That may be a HUGE reduction, proud of that information.”
- Oct. 26 The respectable Reddit megathread list appearing documented disasters now numbers 5 broken 12VHWPR connectors.
- Oct. 26 Jason Langiven, aka JayzTwoCents, who has lengthy been crucial of the connector being “bad,” attempts to replicate the failure on a local 12VHWPR cable and is not able to urge a failure at the cable underneath heavy rather a lot.
Brad Chacos/IDG
- Oct. 27 Igor Wallossek of IgorsLab.de conducts a tear down and failure test of a 12VHPWR persistent adapter and concludes that the problem doesn’t seem to be the 12VHPWR design itself nor the much-touted insertion cycle worry raised prior to now. As a substitute, Wallossek concludes it’s the design of Nvidia’s adapter itself, which he describes as “inferior high quality (and) can result in disasters and has already led to harm in unmarried circumstances.” Wallossek mentioned he believes bending and kinking of the adapter may cause susceptible solder joints and bridges to damage and build up the resistance inflicting the melting.
- Oct. 28 Ronaldo Buassali of TecLab.internet.br posts his own failure tests, together with swinging an influence provide the usage of simply the connector and subjecting to a pressure take a look at of one,532—well past its rated sustained wattage of 600 watts.
- Oct. 30 Stephen Burke of Players Nexus attempts to replicate the melting failure by means of deliberately harmful a 12VHPWR adapter very similar to what IgorsLab.de had reported and subjected it to a 99 % load for 8 hours with out a melting noticed. Burke additionally notes that his 5 adapters all seem to be built the similar—and but in a different way than the adapter IgorsLab had. Burke mentioned his 5 12VHWPR adapters use wires categorised for 300 volts as opposed to the 150 volts the adapter Wallossek had. Burke concludes that we simply don’t know what the problem is, however this can be a actual drawback on some adapters—however now not they all. He additionally mentions a idea being floated that the smaller connector would possibly not simply seat in addition to the bigger conventional persistent connectors. He additionally issues out that opposite to what many shoppers imagine, a local connector that plugs without delay into an influence provide might also fail the similar approach if the local cable is built the similar because the failed adapters. Burke additionally asks homeowners of RTX 4090 playing cards to file which cable adapters they have got.
- Oct. 30 With information that there seem to be other 12VHPWR adapters being equipped, Stephen Burke of Gamer’s Nexus studies by the use of Twitter that of the 130 emails he has won, 7 % of homeowners file they have got the 150V cabling that used to be utilized in IgorsLab’s adapter cable. Burke notes that whilst the cable marking might say 150V, that simplest method it makes use of the similar obvious spec cables—and does now not point out they’re will have the low-quality solder joints that IgorsLab discovered. Burke additionally notes that of the 130, “now not many are burned.”
- Oct. 30 Andreas Schilling of Hardwareluxx.de conducts his own poll of forum members who’ve bought RTX 4090 playing cards. He studies that 12 have a 4-pins-to-12VHPWR adapter marked “300V.” One has a 3-pins-to-12VHPWR marked “150V,” and two other people have 4-pins-to-12VHPWR marked “150V.”
- Nov. 1 Ronaldo Buassali of TecLab.internet.br posts a longer video of trying out from the unique reside movement with further explanations of the way he examined the 12VHPWR. Not like many of the trying out up to now, which used precise GeForce RTX 4090 playing cards, Buassali bodily eliminates the 12VHPWR connector from the GPU and wires it up for pressure trying out. This shall we Buassali push the connector meeting way past the 600 watts referred to as for, together with a number of 900 watts, 1,200 watts and 1,500 watts. Buassali’s conclusion? The 12VHPWR connector itself is “smartly sized, such a lot in order that it supported a lot more than its specification.” Alternatively, Buassali concludes that despite the fact that the connector can care for greater than it’s rated for, a poorly inserted connector that creates resistance may certainly be at the back of the melting of the connector. Buassali additionally doesn’t rule out a batch of dangerous cables, however that suggests a producing factor, now not a design drawback.
- Nov. 2 Jon Gerow, director of R&D at Corsair and previously of Jonnyguru.com, posts effects from deliberately broken 12VHPWR cable adapters underneath load and is not able to urge melting as smartly. Gerow used to be ready to supply more than one 12VHPWR adapter cables for damaging trying out, and in spite of breaking off solder joints, he used to be not able to urge melting or a failure. He did observe that one of the most adapters weren’t built rather well however even the worst of the batch handed pressure trying out with out failing. Gerow concludes that one of the most issues will have came about when the homeowners didn’t totally seat the 12VHPWR adapter cables and likewise posts photographs of put in PCs the place even a small hole of one mm may lead to larger resistance.
- Nov. 3 AMD officially announces its RDNA3-based Radeon 7900XT and Radeon 7900XTX and proudly notes that it didn’t use 12VHPWR connections. Alternatively, the corporate issues out that the overall belief that it modified its designs simplest after the melting issues cropped up a couple of weeks in the past isn’t proper. AMD made the verdict to stick with typical 8-pin persistent connectors greater than a 12 months in the past.
- Nov. 4 A brand new publish within the Nvidia subreddit, taken from a Facebook post of a Hong Kong-based RTX 4090 proprietor, is the primary reported broken 12VHPWR cable from a local cable plugged without delay into an influence provide. Prior to this file, all the reported problems had simplest came about in 12VHPWR adapter cables, now not local cables. Day after today, someone else studies a melted connector the usage of a local 12VHPWR cable from an ATX 3.0 persistent provide. This seems to sprint hopes {that a} local plug would clear up the issue.
- Nov 7 The collection of showed failed connectors now numbers 23 at the Reddit megathread, with problems unfold amongst many graphics card makers. Oddly, there aren’t any Nvidia Founders Version playing cards indexed with disasters. There also are 5 unconfirmed circumstances indexed from different board makers as smartly.
- Nov. 7 VideoCardz editor WhyCry reports that an individual on Reddit has been informed his or her Gainward GeForce RTX 4090 might be behind schedule till the center of November because it waits for alternative 12VHPWR adapter cables. The e-mail, despatched from Australian PC corporate Techfast to a buyer, mentioned “Whilst investigations are nonetheless proceeding and Nvidia has now not launched a public commentary, Gainward has informed us that cables shipped with their playing cards will (are) being changed. Because of this, they’re preserving delivery of all playing cards till this has taken position. We additionally perceive this cable alternative is probably not restricted to Gainward on my own.” PCWorld reached out to Techfast who showed the authenticity of the e-mail.
- Nov. 8 In spite of Australian PC builder Techfast confirming an electronic mail despatched to shoppers pronouncing some RTX 4090 playing cards can be behind schedule whilst Gainward ships alternative cables and implying different GPU makers would do the similar, Gainward’s EU Facebook page says that isn’t the case and has issued a explanation. “There’s flawed knowledge suggesting Gainward is delaying the RTX 4090 cargo to interchange the cables in recent years. Right here we want to explain that—Gainward isn’t preserving any RTX 40 cargo to interchange the cables, and has no plan to take action. The cables Gainward recently used at the RTX 40 had been inspected by means of NVIDIA workforce and located no problems. All Gainward cargo is being made as standard. Please don’t hesitate to clutch the Gainward graphics playing cards when you plan to shop for one!”
- Nov. 11 UK {hardware} web page KitGuru receives an update from Nvidia that it’s proceeding to analyze the placement. “”We proceed to analyze the studies, on the other hand we don’t have additional main points to proportion but. NVIDIA and our companions are dedicated to supporting our shoppers and making sure an expedited RMA procedure for them,” KitGuru says by the use of Twitter.
- Nov. 13 There at the moment are 26 showed GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs with melted connectors documented within the Nvidia subreddit together with for the primary time, a file of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Version with a melted connector.
- Nov 14 Igor Wallossek of Igorslab.de confirms there are a minimum of two producers of the Nvidia equipped adapter plugs with one of the most adapters apparently the usage of a rougher casting making insertions harder. Wallossek, who mentioned he has spoken with Nvidia’s director of engineering Gabriele Gorla, doesn’t blame finish customers, however does imagine the rougher castings might in all probability have lead some shoppers to to rock the 12VHWPR connector into the socket that could be why such a lot of studies display melted connectors ranging from one aspect of the connector with few to none melting from the middle. The answer, Wallossek mentioned, might point out the PCI SIG must factor steerage on stay out zones to offer shoppers higher get entry to to the socket to without delay placing it quite than rocking the connectors in from one aspect. Wallossek additionally notes that of the 2 adapter cables used equipped by means of Nvidia, one design simplest grabs pins on two facets whilst the opposite design grabs pins on all 4 facets.
- Nov. 16 In an exhaustive investigation depending on third-party failure research the usage of X-ray exam in addition to electron microscope examination, in addition to reproducing the disasters, Players Nexus’ EIC Stephen Burke concludes particles within the connectors from production or from insertion in addition to improperly seating the cables is in large part at the back of many of the disasters observed. Burke additionally cites numbers from a seller that the danger of failure is from 0.05 to .1 % at this level. Even though improperly seating the cables whilst placing it underneath pressure turns out to get many of the blame, Burke additionally wonders if the design of the connector shouldn’t have expected the problems.
- Nov. 16 Tom’s {Hardware} studies {that a} GeForce RTX 4090 proprietor has filed a class-action in the USA District Court docket for the Northern District Court docket of California over the melting connectors. Filed by means of Lucas Genova on Nov. 11, the go well with alleges Nvidia “advertised and bought the RTX 4090 with a faulty and threatening persistent cable plug and socket, which has rendered shoppers’ playing cards inoperable and poses a significant electric and fireplace danger for each buyer,” in line with the Tom’s {Hardware} file.
- Nov. 17 Having a look to pour a bit salt into the injuries of its competitor, AMD officers had been touting their fortune of now not enforcing the brand new 12VHPWR connector in its upcoming Radeon 7000-series of playing cards.
- Nov. 18 After weeks of most commonly silence, Nvidia in the end problems a commentary that it has won 50 identified studies of melted connectors and after inspecting the returned cables, has in large part discovered fallacious insertion to be the most likely reason, in line with a report by means of Players Nexus. The corporate additionally poured chilly water on construction worry that use of third-party 12VHPWR cables would void warranties. The corporate informed Players Nexus EIC Stephen Burke that it will honor warranties associated with the problems and would expedite the RMA procedure. Whilst fallacious insertion would point out consumer error all through set up of the the playing cards is accountable, Nvidia additionally informed Players Nexus it’s having a look at tactics to reinforce the connectors that used to be homologated by means of the PCI-SIG.
- Nov. 18 The respectable Nvidia Reddit megathread closes out its logging of reported incidents which seem to drop off after Players Nexus video and Nvidia’s respectable understand. Alternatively, one Reddit consumer posts a picture of a melted RTX 4090 12VHPWR connector within the PCMR subreddit on Nov. 24.
- Dec. 1 With worry over melting 12VHPWR connectors very much subsiding after studies that fallacious insertion is most likely the main reason, the PCI SIG releases a commentary reminding people who its spec addresses interoperability, now not protection, and every member is accountable for their very own merchandise. “PCI-SIG needs to provoke upon all Participants that manufacture, marketplace or promote PCI-SIG applied sciences (together with 12VHPWR connections) of the wish to take all suitable and prudent measures to make sure finish consumer protection, together with trying out for the reported drawback circumstances involving shoppers as alleged within the above-referenced lawsuit. Participants are reminded that PCI-SIG specs supply important technical knowledge for interoperability and don’t try to cope with correct design, production strategies, fabrics, protection trying out, protection tolerances or workmanship. When enforcing a PCI-SIG specification, Participants are accountable for the design, production, and trying out, together with protection trying out, in their merchandise.”
- Feb. 2023 Intel releases a minor update to the ATX 3.0 spec that recommends that persistent provide distributors use inside connections the usage of spring-type quite than dimple-type connections. Intel mentioned it did this because the recommendation of connection corporations themselves because the spring-type design gives extra floor space. The other connection advice, on the other hand, does now not mandate it for all, and older dimple-style connectors can persevered for use if an influence provide seller chooses to. Current persistent provides the usage of dimple-style connectors additionally don’t wish to get replaced—they paintings as anticipated if inserted appropriately.
- March 10, 2023 Lucas Genova, a self-described “social media persona and entrepreneur ” and the plaintiff in a class-action go well with in opposition to Nvidia alleging the 40-series of playing cards are faulty, asks the court docket to brush aside his go well with with prejudice. Why Genova sought to brush aside his personal go well with isn’t transparent. PCWorld is looking for remark from Genova’s lawyer, however the dismissal with prejudice method Genova may now not search to refile the go well with even supposing he sought after to.
- June 12, 2023 CableMod, which made a reputation for itself promoting angled-adapters for 12VHWPR to handle melting connectors fears, problems a commentary in keeping with proceeding studies of its 12VHPWR adapters melting in 40-series GPUs pronouncing the vast majority of the problems glance to be from improperly inserted cables. “We have now bought tens of 1000’s of those adapters since release again in March, and of those, have won round 20 circumstances the place the adapter connector had melted – a particularly low failure price,” CableMod officers mentioned in a commentary on Reddit. “Upon research, the vast majority of disasters have been because of the adapters now not being totally inserted into the GPU, whilst different circumstances have been certainly because of faulty adapters. We can’t deny that issues can pass improper all through the producing procedure – no corporate can ensure a nil % failure price. Alternatively, what we will do is lend a hand our customers when such issues happen. To that finish, we’ve been intently tracking circumstances which can be being reported to our improve workforce. For GPUs the place the RMA requests are denied, we’ve presented to reimburse the whole acquire worth to the affected customers. Some customers had been requested to ship their GPUs to fix facilities, and we’ve lined all delivery prices as smartly. We have now been doing this even in circumstances the place the adapter used to be now not totally inserted, as we wish to ensure that none of our customers are neglected within the chilly.”
- June 14, 2023 A publish on Reddit first reported by means of Tom’s {Hardware} presentations an image of a 12VHPWR melted connector. Not like earlier studies the place harm happens to the GPU, on the other hand, the individual presentations harm came about at the persistent provide aspect. On this case, the individual mentioned it used to be on a BeQuiet Darkish Energy 13 1,000 watt persistent provide.