Update on RTX 4090: We’ve been talking with Hardware Buster’s Aris Bitziopoulos to get his ideas on the 12VHPWR persistent connector and doable overheating when bent. Aris could also be dependent on the PSU professional we recruit for our absolute best PSU for gaming information (opens in new tab). In his checkout, which you’ll see within the video embedded beneath, the bending of a 12VHPWR cable with regards to the connector greater the temperature measured on the connection level by way of around 1°C.
The 12VHPWR connector used for the take a look at used to be one direct from an ATX 3.0 suitable Seasonic PSU, and Aris does not foresee an issue with the connector in standard use. It is, alternatively, necessary to notice that this isn’t a take look at the PCIe 3x 8-pin to twelve+4-pin adapter integrated with Nvidia’s RTX 4090, and it could be tricky to conclude anything else related to the file discussed beneath relating to a consumer’s persistent connector that used to be badly broken after failure. There are many variables. Aris mentions that in case you are bending your cable, watch out to not harm any pins.
In regards to contemporary studies of melting persistent connectors on RTX 4090 graphics playing cards (there are two from Reddit), Nvidia says it’s investigating and can keep in touch with the homeowners of the playing cards, The Verge studies (opens in new tab).
Original tale: It’s now not helpful to bend the 12VHPWR connector recently in use by way of Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 (opens in new tab) graphics playing cards, and integrated inside the ATX 3.0 spec, whatsoever all through set up or use.
The manufacturer of top-end cables, CableMod, has warned customers that any peculiar bends or turns within the cable may just put further drive at the connector and perhaps even build up the chance of overheating. The corporate warns against vertical bends and horizontal bends, which necessarily approach customers must purpose to stay cables completely aligned and immediately or chance malfunction.
Anyone who has ever constructed a PC will take into account that this is not time conceivable.
The 12VHPWR connector used to be presented as part of the ATX 3.0 specification (opens in new tab), revealed by way of Intel, and is meant to scale back the ability footprint for connectors on a PCB and ship as much as 600W of persistent. So a long way it has handiest been followed to be used with the RTX 4090, alternatively, different graphics playing cards are anticipated to apply to swimsuits.
“This new connector can ship the ability required for those power-hungry playing cards, but additionally comes with some caveats that customers want to pay attention to,” CableMod says in a submit on its site (opens in new tab) from September 25.
“The 12VHPWR connector and the terminals utilized in it are a lot smaller than the former technology. Through our in-depth checking out, it seems that that bending the wires too with regards to the connector may just lead to one of the vital terminals coming unfastened or misaligning inside the connector itself.
“This would possibly result in an asymmetric load around the different wires, expanding the chance of overheating harm. The chance of that is considered upper if the bend is completed horizontally relating to the connector orientation (left to proper),” CableMod note
Cablemod additionally states that any bend at the 12VHPWR cable must happen 35mm from the connector itself—more straightforwardly mentioned than finished.
The reason why I’m highlighting this submission from the corporate as of late is that a submit previous late from a consumer on Reddit (opens in new tab) appeared the 12VHPWR cable connecting their RTX 4090 to the ability to provide had utterly failed, melting within the procedure.
The unlucky PC builder believes their setup used to be suitably easy, and that they did not have too competitive a bend in position. Images equipped by way of the consumer (opens in new tab) do display a slight bend, and one most likely extra competitive than Cablemod’s 35mm advice, however no doubt not anything that I might have a look at and imagine fallacious or atypical by way of PC development requirements.
If you did not know one main cable company prompt towards that kind of bend, you would not suppose anything else dangerous of it.
“I have no idea why it took place. I feel my adapter cable is erroneous. Welp, I suppose RMA it’s an EDIT Card that used to be connected vertically. Bend used to be now not that competitive. Sure there used to bend nonetheless this must now not occur on a 2k Euro GPU PSU Corsair RMX 1000,” the consumer reggie_gakil says within the discussion board thread.
We cannot hyperlink this unmarried failure to bending or another reason right now—occasionally issues do fail somewhat dramatically and aren’t all the time indicative of a much broader pattern. And whilst it is not de, spite the fact that I listen to many tales of PCIe cables melting, outdated or new, I might dare say this is not the primary time it has taken place.
However, this new 12VHPWR connector isn’t additionally without its critics.
Overclocker and PCB analyzer Buildzoid has already revealed a scathing evaluation (opens in new tab) of the connector known as “The 12VHPWR connector sucks”, bringing up their issues with the fewer pins in position for the 600W persistent supply as opposed to the older PCIe persistent connectors and the will for the alternate in persistent adapter within the first position.
WCCFTech (opens in new tab) additionally now reported that PCI-SIG, the crowd in control of managing the PCI same old, informed its contributors to be wary about some implementations of 12VHPWR and thermal variance when the use of adapters to non-ATX 3.0 spec PSUs, which might result in issues of safety.
“We suggest contributors paintings carefully with their connector distributors and workout due diligence in the use of high-power connections, in particular, the place protection issues would possibly exist,” PCI-SIG mentioned in a conversation with contributors.
However, Nvidia has already made an try to ease homeowners’ issues about this observation from PCI-SIG. In reaction to the query: “Why did PCI-SIG factor the caution and the way does this impact NVIDIA’s new merchandise?”, Nvidia mentioned a month in the past (opens in new tab):
“It does now not impact NVIDIA’s new merchandise. During early construction and checking out we knew a possible factor with a prototype connector made by a sole provider. As a PCI-SIG member, we know about the provider, requested them to mend it (which they did), and shared our findings to lend a hand to providers who’re imposing the brand new same old. The PCI-SIG used to be passing alongside the one’s learnings to different providers.”
So, from a legitimate viewpoint, no less than of the GPU producer, all is definitely with the connector. Though that can handiest perform a little to ease issues of different RTX 4090 homeowners—the picture posted to Reddit of what may just pass improper with the cable, must a malfunction happen, isn’t a lovely sight. But we will be able to handiest imagine this as far as a remoted incident as of late.
I want to suppose that the ratification of this connector throughout GPU producers, Intel, Nvidia, and PCI-SIG can be enough to make certain that mere bending of a cable deliberate for use by way of many hundreds of other folks would not reason it to combust. Fire dangers must now not be taken flippantly. (opens in new tab) That mentioned I might additionally in my view be vulnerable to applying Cablemod’s recommendation if I have been the use of this cable inside of my very own PC as of late.
In mild of that and the rising disquiet amongst some PC developers regarding the cable’s protection, I additionally foresee some try to be made to quell any more issues by way of the aforementioned firms. At the very least to revive religion within the protection of the connector.
