MSI’s 16-pin yellow-tipped connector adapter, which has been implicated in damaging multiple GPUs, including a recent case involving an MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC. It emphasizes that this adapter appears indiscriminate in the GPUs it affects and strongly advises gamers to steer clear of it to avoid potential hardware failures.
Reports of melting 16-pin connectors continue to surface, with this latest incident echoing a prior one where a similar MSI RTX 5090 Gaming Trio model experienced connector melting. A Reddit user shared images showing a burnt top row on the MSI yellow-tipped connector and noticeable yellowing on the top row of the GPU’s connector, signifying clear damage. The user reported that the GPU had been operational for seven months before failing while in an idle state, connected through the MSI 16-pin adapter cable that came bundled with the GPU to an EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G+ power supply unit.
Background details explain that the RTX 5090 lacks a native 16-pin power connector, making the adapter necessary, but it’s based on outdated specifications that can lead to improper load balancing, especially in setups using three or four 8-pin PCIe cables converted to 16-pin. In this specific case, cable bending wasn’t a factor since the user’s PC side panel was removed for better clearance, pointing instead to the adapter itself as the main cause. The article notes various contributing factors to such failures but highlights the MSI connector adapter’s yellow tip as providing no real advantage and being a recurring problem.
To mitigate these risks, particularly for power-hungry GPUs like the RTX 5090 that can consume up to 600W, the piece recommends opting for a native 16-pin to 16-pin power cable directly from the PSU or upgrading to a PSU equipped with a native 12V-2×6 connector. It warns that without these precautions, melting connectors remain a common hazard in high-end setups.
Source: wccftech