Modders show RTX 5090 works flawlessly with 8-pin connectors instead of 16 without overheating

In a groundbreaking development, a team of tech YouTubers from Brazilian channel TecLab has unveiled a method to power the Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics card using 8-pin power connectors instead of the standard 16-pin design. This innovation comes in response to the notorious thermal failures that have plagued the 5090 model, which can cause its massive 575W TDP to overheat and melt the 16-pin power connector under heavy workloads.

The team utilized a Galax HOF OC LAB RTX 5090 card, designed with dual 16-pin connectors, and successfully bypassed the need for 16-pin power connectors by employing three standard 8-pin Mini-Fit Jr. connectors. By shorting the Sense 0 and Sense 1 pins, the modders were able to trick the card's sensors into accepting the new configuration, allowing it to operate at its full TDP.

During testing, the modified card demonstrated remarkable performance, maintaining a stable temperature of around 35 degrees Celsius while drawing a peak current of 120A at 3.4GHz. Even when reduced to two 8-pin connectors, the card continued to operate efficiently, staying below 25 degrees Celsius and drawing just 66A. These results were achieved without any firmware modifications, relying solely on hardware adjustments.

While the team acknowledges that this solution may not be practical for most gamers, they believe it provides a foolproof way to prevent the meltgate issue for good. Their experiment marks a significant breakthrough in overcoming the thermal challenges of the Nvidia RTX 5090, offering a viable alternative for enthusiasts and professionals alike.