A hardware enthusiast on Reddit, known as DallasGrave, modified an MSI GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card to address concerns over the 16-pin power connector. The modification involves soldering a small PCB onto the existing 16-pin interface to add two traditional 8-pin PCIe power connectors, distributing the load across three power cables instead of one.
During a 48-hour stress test at a 550W power draw, the user reported that the temperature of the cables and solder joints remained below 40 degrees Celsius, with each wire carrying approximately 3 amperes of current. These results have not been independently verified.
The RTX 5090 continues to face scrutiny regarding power connector overheating, despite NVIDIA's introduction of the 12V-2x6 interface in 2025. Previous reports have documented melting issues even with official cables, and in September, Hardware Unboxed recorded temperatures reaching 175 degrees Celsius on a power cable with 22 amperes of current.
While other solutions like the ASUS ROG Equalizer cable and ASRock's TempGuard have been introduced to mitigate heat, reports of connector failures persist. Experts warn that manual soldering modifications carry significant risks, including potential hardware damage and the immediate voiding of the manufacturer's warranty.
