Nvidia speaks out on melting RTX 4090 connectors

Nvidia has been investigating user reports of melting 12VHPWR connectors for a few weeks at this point. Through its own investigation last week, Gamers Nexus concluded that many of these cases are likely a mix of user error and design oversight. Now, Nvidia has followed up with a new statement on the matter, confirming it has received reports of 50 cases so far. 

The GN investigation into the issue, which we shared last week, found that in order to get the connector to melt, you have to have the cable unseated and bent at an angle. This can be achieved by users not pushing the connector all the way in to latch, and then pulling the cable for cable management purposes. It is also possible that debris introduced into the connector can cause issues, so if users are unplugging and replugging their cables in often to keep an eye on the connector, that can also lead to problems down the line.

After the findings were shared online, Nvidia shared a statement saying it's aware of 50 cases globally reporting this issue, which is about 0.04% of all the RTX 4090 cards sold (130,000 units). Additionally, the statement adds that users should connect the 12VHPWR adapter to the GPU first, ensuring it is fully seated, and then plug their PSU cable into the adapter to help minimise the chances of not connecting it properly.

Nvidia is still investigating other ways to prevent this but didn't share any details about the alternatives. Moreover, it reminded users that if they face an issue such as this, they should start an RMA process regardless of the card or cable used. In all cases where Nvidia had the chance to test the RMA'd cables, the team could see a visible wear line in the connector, suggesting the cable wasn't fully inserted.

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KitGuru says: If you own an RTX 4090 or 4080, we recommend you check if the cables are inserted correctly. Better safe than sorry.

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