The 12VHPWR power connector debacle will forever be remembered alongside NVIDIA’s RTX 40 series GPU launch. An imperfect design paired with user error has killed several RTX 4090 graphics cards in the last six months since launch. Most vendors have responsed to this issue by revising the adapter design to eliminate any possibility of loose connections. MSI has decided to adopt a simple yet effective approach.
As per NVIDIA’s official statement, the primary cause of the 12VHPWR connector meltings was “user negligence“. If the 16-pin adapter wasn’t fully plugged into the connector, it would result in power inconsistencies and higher temperatures along the extremeties of the connectors. This would eventually melt the adapter alongside the GPU connector, damaging both.
Unlike its peers, MSI has decided to leave the 12VHPWR connector design unchanged, except one small cosmetic difference. The connector pins that go into the slot are colored yellow, allowing users to be sure of whether the plug is properly inserted. A visible yellow part would be an indication of a loose connection requiring further tightening. You’ll also know if the plug or connector are stuck or in need of a replacement.
Source: WCCFTech.
