Redditor gets sick of waiting for Nvidia and makes a tool to protect RTX 5090 GPUs from melting their power cables

A Redditor has created an open-source tool to protect Asus Astral RTX 5080 and 5090 GPUs from potential cable melting issues. The utility, available on GitHub, reads per pin 12VHPWR current directly from the graphics card's sensor chip and forces a PC shutdown if the current exceeds 9.5A for 15 seconds. Creator Humza Khalid developed the standalone app, which is designed for Windows and requires Python.

Initially, the tool would initiate a shutdown, but Khalid plans to modify it to drop the power limit instead, offering a faster response in future versions. This app is a last line of defense against potential cable melting, not a first line of defense. The creator emphasizes that proper connector seating remains essential. While the utility is open source, providing transparency into its workings, caution is advised when installing third-party software from unknown developers.

The concern surrounding Nvidia's RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs appears to be real and growing, with some users expressing anxiety about their cards overheating and cables melting.