Maybe the $40 connector cable is all you need to save your GPU from melting connector. However, making the GPU pull more than required power will still be bad for the GPU's health.
User Reports his RTX 5090 Doesn't Turn on Until ASRock's Connector Cable Cools Down
At least somebody is able to get their GPU rescued before meeting a bad end. While in most cases, the 16-pin connector melting occurred when the GPU was running at full load with nearly 550-600W power draw, this user was able to run his GPU at over 2X the power limit without any serious damage. A user on Overclock forums reported that he shunt-modded his MSI RTX 5090 Ventus GPU and deployed liquid-cooling to be able to draw more power and deliver higher performance.
After nearly 20 intensive benchmarks, his GPU decided to turn off. However, this wasn't due to any connector failure or melting; it was done by ASRock's $40 12V-2x6 connector cable, which the company launched recently. This cable has an NTC sensor at the connector that not only monitors the temperature, but also sends the signal to the PSU to halt the operation if the temperature exceeds the limit.
The user wasn't afraid to push his GPU beyond its limits, and his PSU turned it off when it exceeded 105°C, which is the maximum limit set by ASRock. The user showed the cable connector on the GPU side, which clearly showed discoloration due to high temperatures. When this occurred, his system didn't allow him to turn the GPU on till the cable cooled down. His GPU is still operational and working fine, but he says he is thinking of replacing the connector on the GPU since it has "irreversibly compromised".
ASRock is probably going to move a lot of power supplies because of this. Good for them. If any ASRock representative happens to see this, consider lowering the PSU shutdown temperature from 105C to something closer to 85C. That would be a much safer threshold.
- Motivman, Overclock.net
The user says ASRock should lower the temperature limit to ensure the GPU shuts down before reaching high temperatures. Still, the company won't be responsible if the user mods his GPU, which voids the warranty and could lead to the GPU's death. ASRock read this user's story and commented in an X post saying that its PSUs are "insanely good". Keep in mind that the ASRock 16-pin cable is only compatible with the ASRock Taichi and Phantom Gaming series PSUs.
ASRock's power supply is so insanely good it's hilarious. It's handling 1350W like a champ, running 200 benchmark loops on the RTX5090 without any issues. Seriously, this thing is amazing. (Machine Translated)
- ASRock, via X
Still, it appears that after WireView Pro 2, the 16-pin cable from ASRock might be the right solution for a lot of RTX 5090 owners. That said, even if you do use the safest PSU or cable/monitoring device, we recommend not to shunt mod to increase the power limit of the GPU, which effectively makes the GPU prone to permanent degradation.
News Source: Overclock
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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