A Reddit user known as DallasGrave has modified an MSI GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card to include two additional 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The modification involves soldering a custom PCB directly to the contacts of the original 16-pin header, which then connects to a secondary board housing the two 8-pin sockets. This setup allows the GPU to draw power through a total of three cables simultaneously.
During a 48-hour stress test at a power draw of 550 W, the modder reported that each conductor carried approximately 3 A. According to the user, the wires remained below 40°C throughout the testing period, including at the joint. While these findings are based on the modder's internal data, further testing is expected to be released in the future.
The 16-pin power connector has been a subject of concern due to reports of melting, despite NVIDIA's implementation of the updated 12V-2x6 revision for the RTX 50-series. Although the company stated in early 2025 that these issues were resolved, multiple instances of melted connectors on RTX 5090 cards have since been documented, including cases involving undervolted hardware.
Recent reports highlight the severity of the issue, with some cables reaching temperatures as high as 175°C. In one documented instance, a single wire was observed pulling approximately 22 A. These ongoing reports of connector failures continue to prompt enthusiasts to seek custom hardware solutions to protect their graphics cards from potential thermal damage.
