The MSI connector might be the real root cause for the connector burning in cases where users have used the yellow-tipped connector.
Redditor Notices 16-pin Yellow-Tipped MSI Connector Pushing Out Itself Slowly, Exposing The Yellow Part; Numerous Others Confirmed the Same
This is a big finding, at least for those who are using the MSI Yellow-tipped 16-pin power connector on their GPUs. As of now, the 16-pin connector melting is one of the most widespread issues on the RTX 50 series and has even affected the RX 9070 XT cards with the 12V-2x6 connector. Every burning and melting issue we have seen had at least one thing in common: the melting of a couple of pins or a complete top/bottom row.
Most cases did not involve the burning of the whole connector, and this is because of the improper contact the connector makes in some cases. While manufacturers recommend fully inserting the connector, the connection can sometimes remain improper. To curb this, MSI came up with its Yellow-Tipped 16-pin connector, which allows users to see if the connector is fully inserted or not. The yellow part should be invisible to ensure a proper connection, but we have been seeing numerous connectors melting even with this design.
Looks like we may have found the actual reason why this happens, despite users claiming they fully inserted their connectors. A Reddit user u/SnooPaintings7769 reported that he noticed his MSI 16-pin yellow tip connector slowly coming out on its own. The yellow part became noticeable just after two months of the connection. He says he pushed it back, but the connector comes out again, which indicates a design flaw since the secure latch should prevent it from coming out.
To our surprise, many users in the thread with the same MSI yellow-tipped connector checked their connections and found the exact same behavior.
This might be due to thermal cycling as the connector heats and loosens up a bit with regular usage. Still, this is quite an indication of what may have been happening with non-MSI connectors as well. The connector burning/melting doesn't happen instantly in most cases. It takes several months before we reach this phase, and the latest finding is likely a major reason why this happens in most cases.
As for the original poster, he says that MSI has confirmed the PSU to be a "defective" unit, which means there must be more units with the same behavior.
News Source: Reddit
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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