Key Takeaways
1. A user reported a melting power cable issue with the Zotac RTX 5070, raising concerns about potential design flaws in Nvidia’s Blackwell GPU series.
2. The incident may be linked to a damaged pin and inadequate load balancing, similar to previous issues noted in the RTX 4090 series.
3. Thermal imaging by overclocker Der8auer revealed uneven current distribution in the RTX 5090, suggesting broader implications for the RTX 50 lineup.
4. Nvidia has not communicated effectively about these issues, leaving users anxious due to the high cost of the GPUs.
5. Concerns about reliability and potential warranty voiding may diminish interest in the RTX 50 series, which starts at over $500.
Nvidia’s Blackwell GPU series is under fresh criticism after an RTX 5070 user reported a power cable that melted. Although such incidents are uncommon, they point to possible design flaws that could affect the entire RTX 50 lineup, even the less power-hungry models.
Incident Overview
The recent case was shared by X user ere9w, who experienced the issue with a Zotac RTX 5070 connected to a 750-watt Seasonic PSU in a brand new gaming setup. Just after turning on the system, smoke was seen rising, indicating that it was the cable that melted, not the GPU’s 12V-2×6 connector.
Possible Causes
A damaged pin and inadequate load balancing might have contributed to this problem. In earlier reports concerning the RTX 4090 series, Nvidia initially attributed similar issues to improper connection but later supported a modified 12V-2×6 design. During the inspection of the GPU, Ere9w found a damaged pin on the power connector. Given how difficult it is to misalign the components, many users believed it to be a manufacturing flaw. The user also emphasized the importance of correct installation.
Broader Implications
This situation mirrors the findings of overclocker Der8auer, who examined an RTX 5090 with a melted connector and cable. By using thermal imaging, he discovered that the current was not distributed evenly, with certain wires handling too much load. The 12V-2×6 design does not have a system to track power draw per pin, which leads to poor load distribution and overheating. This issue now seems to extend beyond the power-thirsty 5090, potentially affecting the RTX 5070 and 5080 as well. This raises significant concerns about the reliability of the entire series.
Nvidia’s lack of communication (at the time of this writing) leaves gamers feeling uneasy, especially given the steep price of these GPUs. While the RTX 40 series led to a fix for the connector issues, the problems with the RTX 50 series suggest that difficulties in Blackwell’s architecture remain unresolved. Users who purchase these cards, which start at over $500, risk damage that could void warranties if classified as user error. Until Nvidia addresses these concerns, reports of melted cables may diminish excitement for the otherwise promising RTX 50 series.
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