Despite efforts to mitigate the melting issue with the 12-pin power connector, it seems that nothing works properly due to poor design.
Reddit User Reports Melted MSI 12V-2x6 Connector, Which Boasts Special Dual-Color Design for Proper Connection
NVIDIA's 12-pin GPU power connector seems to be one of the worst designs, and it probably can't be fixed by merely adding a few safety measures. It's not uncommon to see the connector getting burned since the uneven distribution of load on the pins is common. However, the "supposed" root cause of the melting of the connector and cables is improper connection, which doesn't seem to be the exact reason for the melting.
One of the recent incidents raises the question whether the 12-pin power connector (both 12VHPWR and 12V-2x6) can really endure 600W even across all the pins at full load. The Reddit user u/VersauteGurke reported that his 12V-2x6 connector burned unexpectedly, but the surprising part is that it isn't just a regular 12-pin connector, but MSI's special dual-color edition, which boasts yellow color tips for proper insertion.
Note - MSI ships two dual-tone connectors. The one pictured here is an adapter which is shipped within their GPUs, while the one for the PSU uses a single-sided 16-pin plug at both ends and isn't meant to be used with adapters.
The user used an adapter that comes with the MSI GPUs on his MSI GeForce RTX 5090. The same connector is also available with MSI's latest 12V-2x6-equipped power supplies. The yellow part should go fully inside the port on the GPU for complete contact, but apparently, this didn't work in this user's case. It's hard to say that this is another "user error" as plenty of such cases have already emerged previously and keep on piling up.
Many investigations have been conducted, but no permanent fix so far. If MSI's connector fails, it's more likely to see the regular ones get burned easily. We don't know how many users own a dual-color MSI connector for powering their GPUs and exactly what GPU models they own, because the issue is more prevalent on the RTX 5090. However, the RTX 5080 is also affected to some extent.
The GeForce RTX 5090 can consume close to 600W, which can easily raise cable temperatures to over 100 degrees Celsius in no time and can also reach 150°C. This is enough to melt the cables and the connector, but fortunately, this Reddit user didn't see any damage to this GPU.
News Source: Videocardz
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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