It’s maybe not better to flex the 12VHPWR connector at this time being used by Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 (starts in brand new tab) layouts cards, and included in the ATX 3.0 spec, at all during installation or usage.
Manufacturer of high-end cables, CableMod, has warned users that any odd bends or turns into the cable could place additional strain on the connector and perhaps also raise the threat of overheating. The business warns against straight bends and horizontal bends, which really means users should make an effort to keep cables completely aligned and right or risk breakdown.
Anyone that is ever built a Computer will realize that this is not constantly feasible.
The 12VHPWR connector had been introduced as an element of the ATX 3.0 specification (starts in brand new tab), posted by Intel, and it is designed to decrease the energy impact for connectors for a PCB and deliver as much as 600W of energy. Up to now it’s just been used to be used because of the RTX 4090, but other layouts cards are required to check out suit.
“This brand new connector can deliver the energy necessary for these power-hungry cards, and is sold with some caveats that users should be alert to,” CableMod states in a post on its website (starts in brand new tab) from September 25.
“The 12VHPWR connector together with terminals utilized in it are a great deal smaller compared to the prior generation. Through our substantial screening, it would appear that bending the cables too near the connector could cause a number of the terminals coming free or misaligning in the connector it self.
“this might trigger an uneven load throughout the other cables, increasing the possibility of overheating harm. The possibility of that is considerably greater in the event that fold is completed horizontally in terms of the connector orientation (left to right),” CableMod notes.
(starts in brand new tab)
Cablemod additionally states that any fold regarding 12VHPWR cable should happen 35mm from connector itself—easier stated than done.
The explanation i am showcasing this post from business today is a result of a post earlier in the day today from the individual on Reddit (starts in brand new tab) showing the 12VHPWR cable linking their RTX 4090 on power had entirely unsuccessful, melting in the act.
The regrettable Computer builder thinks their setup had been suitably simple, and they don’t have too aggressive a fold in position. Pictures given by the consumer (starts in brand new tab) do show hook fold, and something probably more aggressive than Cablemod’s 35mm suggestion, but undoubtedly absolutely nothing that i might check and think about wrong or unusual by Computer building requirements.
If you don’t understand one major cable company suggested against that kind of fold, you’dn’t think anything bad from it.
“I have no idea why it just happened. I believe my adapter cable is defective. Welp i assume RMA its EDIT Card had been connected vertically. Bend had not been that aggressive. Yes there clearly was fold nevertheless this will maybe not take place for a 2k Euro GPU PSU Corsair RMX 1000,” the consumer reggie_gakil states into the forum thread.
rtx_4090_adapter_burned from r/nvidia
We can not connect this solitary failure to bending or just about any cause as of this time—sometimes things do fail instead significantly and are also never indicative of the wider trend. Even though it isn’t like we hear numerous tales of PCIe cables melting, old or brand new, i might dare state this is not the very first time it’s occurred.
However, this brand new 12VHPWR connector isn’t additionally without its experts.
Overclocker and PCB analyser Buildzoid has recently posted a scathing review (starts in brand new tab) associated with the connector called “The 12VHPWR connector sucks”, citing their issues because of the less pins in position the 600W energy distribution versus the older PCIe energy connectors together with dependence on the alteration in energy adapter to begin with.
WCCFTech (starts in brand new tab) additionally formerly stated that PCI-SIG, the team responsible for handling the PCI standard, told its users become apprehensive about some implementations of 12VHPWR and thermal variance when utilizing adapters to non-ATX 3.0 spec PSUs, which may trigger security dilemmas.
“We suggest users work closely along with their connector vendors and workout research in making use of high-power connections, specially in which security issues may occur,” PCI-SIG stated in a interaction with users.
However, Nvidia has recently made an endeavor to help ease owners’ issues about any of it declaration from PCI-SIG. In a reply on concern: “Why did PCI-SIG problem the caution and exactly how performs this impact NVIDIA’s new items?”, Nvidia stated 30 days ago (starts in brand new tab):
“it generally does not impact NVIDIA’s new items. During early development and screening we identified a prospective problem having model connector made of a single provider. Being a PCI-SIG user, we informed the provider, asked them to repair it (that they did), and provided our findings to greatly help manufacturers that are applying this new standard. The PCI-SIG had been moving along those learnings with other manufacturers.”
So, from the state viewpoint, at the least associated with the GPU maker, all is well because of the connector. Though that’ll just perform a small to help ease issues of other RTX 4090 owners—the image posted to Reddit of exactly what could get wrong because of the cable, should a breakdown happen, isn’t pretty sight. But we could just think about this as far as an remote event today.
I want to believe that the ratification of the connector across GPU manufacturers, Intel, Nvidia, and PCI-SIG will be enough to ensure simple bending of the cable in the pipeline to be utilized by thousands of individuals would not make it combust. Fire dangers shouldn’t be taken gently. (starts in brand new tab) nevertheless, i might additionally really be inclined to check out Cablemod’s advice easily were utilizing this cable in my own very own Computer today.
In light of the, together with growing disquiet among some Computer builders about the cable’s security, we additionally foresee some try to be produced to quell further issues by these businesses. At the minimum to bring back faith into the security associated with the connector.
