This was a rare case and isn't similar to the melting issues we have seen previously on the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 cards.
Defective ZOTAC RTX 5070 Results in Power Cable Melting; Pics Show Missing Pin in 12-Pin Connector
While it's not uncommon to see the melting issue on the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs, we have hardly heard of such a problem on the mid-range RTX 5070 card. This one is probably the first instance we are reporting that reveals that melting problems can also occur on this GPU. However, there is a catch.
PCから煙が出てきたΣ(ﾟдﾟ；)
人生初経験...正直ネットニュースとかで見たことあるけど超低確率だと思ってた。。
電源つけて直ぐ2秒後すごい煙の量でびっくり！コンセント抜いて換気扇回してる😭
端子の接続も何度見直しても、しっかりしてるし、奥までちゃんと刺さってる
（続きの動画あります pic.twitter.com/EX1pP5yKFF
— ケンケン🐶自作PC依頼受付(クレカ決済◎)@埼玉 (@ere9w) April 10, 2025
Unlike how 12-pin power connectors and cables burn, in this case the only affected area was the cable and not the connector. A user posted several videos and pics of his setup describing what went wrong as soon as he turned on his system. He installed a ZOTAC RTX 5070 GPU powered by a Seasonic Focus GX-750W power supply.
In a couple of seconds, the cable caught on fire and one of the wires was seen melted. After a careful inspection, it appeared that one of the pins in the 12-pin power connector on the GPU was bent, but the user reported that it isn't the case as, in reality, the power pin was completely missing. This is probably why this incident happened, but still, considering the 12V-2x6 can carry power despite one or more pins not being connected, the melting issue shouldn't have occurred as the RTX 5070 doesn't require a lot of power.
However, we know from a lot of reported cases that, due to a design flaw in the 12-pin power connector, anything is possible. Thankfully, the connectors on the GPU or PSU were unaffected but the RTX 5070 seemed defective from the very start. Hopefully, the user will be able to RMA it and get a new card as a replacement.
The GeForce RTX 5070 needs just 250W of power and could have been managed through dual 8-pin PCI-E connectors. Despite this, NVIDIA still went with the 12V-2x6 connector, which has already caused so much trouble. The melting issues didn't go away from the last generation and are more prevalent in the RTX 50 series.
The 12-pin connector needs a redesign as the 12V-2x6 didn't do much to mitigate the problem. In contrast, we are getting even more power-hungrier GPUs than ever, which further escalate such issues.
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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