Unlucky PC user finds AMD's cheaper 8-pin GPU connectors can melt, too
Redditor AwarenessHour9192 recently complained about a melted power connector on a PC graphics card, an issue commonly associated with Nvidia's top-of-the-line GPUs. However, this time the affected card was an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. Read Entire Article
Recently, a Reddit user named AwarenessHour9192 experienced a troubling issue with their AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics card. Despite the fact that Nvidia's high-end RTX 4090 and 5090 have gained notoriety for causing melted power cable connectors, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is also susceptible, even when using power monitoring devices.
The user reported black screens and other PC problems over several months, making it difficult to pinpoint the cause. After a technician replaced the operating system and ran benchmarks, they discovered charred marks on the GPU's power connector. While Nvidia has attempted to attribute this problem to user mistakes, many users believe the root cause lies in the 16-pin power connectors, as well as the 5090's high power draw of near 600W.
In response to this issue, YouTube channel TecLab recently showcased two methods to mitigate the problem. The first approach involved soldering the PCB directly to the power cables, bypassing the connector entirely. In another demonstration, they replaced the 16-pin connector with a triple 8-pin setup without affecting performance, which also lowered temperatures.
AwarenessHour9192's issue occurred with AMD's last-gen flagship GPU, which only draws 400W via an 8-pin connector. However, instead of connecting the power connector directly to the graphics card, the user passed it through a Thermal Grizzly WireView power monitor, designed to prevent this specific issue. Fortunately, the monitor saved the GPU from severe damage, unlike other cases that resulted in severe burns on Nvidia graphics cards that cost over $5,000.
While AwarenessHour9192 has yet to determine the cause of the meltdown, Thermal Grizzly promptly replaced the power connector and the WireView. This incident highlights that GPUs with modest TDPs and 8-pin power connectors can also experience melted connectors. Users are advised to exercise caution when installing them and check for physical damage if they encounter video output issues.
Written by urgent.news from TechSpot's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
