Corsair’s PSU Expert Jonny Guru Weighs in on Nvidia Connector-Gate

16-pin power connectors
(Image credit: JonnyGuru)

Nvidia’s issue with melting 16-pin GPU power connectors continues to rumble on. As the first-party information vacuum continues, we are still open to reasonable theories about the melting issues Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards are having with their power connectors. Corsair’s esteemed PSU expert, JonnyGuru, has now shared his views and theories about connector gate.

The PSU expert’s plausible explanation is also pretty simple: GPU installers aren’t fully inserting their connectors he concludes – in problematic installations there remains a gap between the insert and the socket. This is something we discussed a couple of weeks ago as a possibility, though it's only one of several.

In the wake of our coverage of connector-gate theories from Igor’s Lab, Gamers Nexus,  and input from CableMod, Hardware Luxxe, and Tom’s Hardware’s own GPU editor, it's hard to come to any solid conclusion. Let's take a closer look at JonnyGuru’s method and theory.

JonnyGuru connected a Corsair HX1500i with three PCIe cables going into the Nvidia adapter. He also added a thermistor to the setup for monitoring and worked with cable ties to inflict unwise degrees of bend to the cabling. Like others before him, JonnyGuru decided to try and inflict problematic damage on the connectors, particularly the integrity of the soldered joints. However, all of this was to no avail, with connector temperatures under sustained heavy loads never rising beyond 53C (degrees Celsius).

Above: gallery showing good and bad connections


Following the slightly fruitless testing session, JonnyGuru cast his attention wider and pondered over online photos of setups that had melted cables, and others that were problem free. This led the PSU expert to come to the following conclusion: “ANY 12VHPWR connector can potentially burn up because ANY of them can be hard to insert.” This theory was supported by a number of connector mating images where the connector isn’t quite fully inserted. Moreover, he reasoned that the 16-pin connector is “VERY DIFFICULT to insert completely,” which jives with our own experience. The caps-lock in both previous quotes has been left intact for emphasis.

If PC DIYers and enthusiasts are hoping for a little advice, as Nvidia and AIBs remain unnervingly quiet, JonnyGuru suggests the application of a little dielectric grease from Amazon to the power connector. This $4 investment is worth it for assured fitting of a $1500 GPU, commented the Corsair PSU expert.

What's more, any users with a failed 16-pin connector aren't likely to publicly declare, "Yeah, I just checked and I failed to insert the adapter all the way. It's my own damn fault" — not when potential warranty coverage is at stake. But the fact is we simply don't know for certain what has caused the failures to this date, including failed direct to PSU 16-pin connectors.

Nvidia Remains Quiet

It has been more than two weeks since the the first 16-pin 12VHPWR melting adapter problem reared its smoldering head. While various third parties and tech experts have come forth with reasonable theories about the underlying issue(s), Nvidia and its partners have been conspicuously quiet.

The last we heard was that Team Green was still carefully examining melted samples in their labs. Given we expect to see continued use of the 16-pin adapter on Nvidia's upcoming RTX 4080 as well as the future RTX 4070 Ti, it would be great to get some official news about these issues from Nvidia and its board partners. If or when that happens, we'll be sure to share any provided information.

Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

  • sizzling
    Wouldn’t it be fairly straightforward to replicate the problem to prove this theory?
    Reply
  • DRagor
    melting adapter problem reared its smoldering head
    Maybe, instead of calling the adapter 'octopus' we should call it 'hydra' :ROFLMAO:
    Reply
  • hotaru251
    If PC DIYers and enthusiasts are hoping for a little advice, as Nvidia and AIBs remain unnervingly quiet, JonnyGuru suggests the application of a little dielectric grease from Amazon to the power connector. This $4 investment is worth it for assured fitting of a $1500 GPU, commented the Corsair PSU expert.

    yeah...no.
    if you spend 1500$ on a gpu it shouldnt require you buying grease to PLUG something in.

    if your plug is issue then the plug needs revised.
    the seller's responsible for making sure its idiot-proof.

    it isnt users fault the selelr wanted to make a new adapater to save space on pcb...they are massive already wouldnt of changed anything making it fit 3 or 4 8pins.
    Reply
  • spentshells
    DRagor said:
    Maybe, instead of calling the adapter 'octopus' we should call it 'hydra' :ROFLMAO:
    GG
    Reply
  • blacknemesist
    Of course no one is going to say it is their fault but the adapter looks cheap and was suspected as potentially problematic before the cards were even out.
    The fact remain that if bending is a problem then it shouldn't be possible to bend it. NVidia probably is looking into it but most definitely focusing on spinning this as "not our fault" as much as possible
    Reply
  • Inthrutheoutdoor
    hotaru251 said:
    yeah...no.
    if you spend 1500$ on a gpu it shouldnt require you buying grease to PLUG something in.

    if your plug is issue then the plug needs revised.
    the seller's responsible for making sure its idiot-proof.

    it isnt users fault the seller wanted to make a new adapter to save space on pcb...they are massive already wouldn't of changed anything making it fit 3 or 4 8pins.

    ^^THIS^^
    Although I know for a fact that Dielectric grease is useful for some specific situations where it can help improve connectivity, reduce corrosion, and also provide some protection from dirt & moisture, THIS AINT ONE OF THEM :mad:

    And blaming this issue on the users "not fully inserting the connector" sounds moar like
    nGreedia paid JG to publish a statement that shifts the blame for a poorly designed/faulty connector away from them and onto the end users, in an effort to hedge off all of the upcoming lawsuits that they know are in the process of being filed as we speak....

    Therefore, we must now consider the possibility that Corsair, JG, and nG are all in cahoots to try to make this issue go away, OR perhaps that nG has contracted with Corsair to design & manufacture a new, improved connector & cable that will....

    As the saying goes: Removed by Moderator
    Reply
  • JTWrenn
    Doesn't really matter. If something is hard to insert, and designers know that, then releasing it without measures to ensure it is fully inserted or won't melt when it is not, are a must!

    If not, you designed something badly. Make the thing easier to insert, include the grease, or make a latch that is very easy to see when it is not all the way in. Or you know, go back to dual 8s that are easier. There are a lot of options that they didn't take, then they just cranked the power up to a billion and hey what do you know!
    Reply
  • JTWrenn
    hotaru251 said:
    yeah...no.
    if you spend 1500$ on a gpu it shouldnt require you buying grease to PLUG something in.

    if your plug is issue then the plug needs revised.
    the seller's responsible for making sure its idiot-proof.

    it isnt users fault the selelr wanted to make a new adapater to save space on pcb...they are massive already wouldnt of changed anything making it fit 3 or 4 8pins.

    Exactly. I mean they could have fixed all of this by just saying, here is some grease you must use the grease. Nobody would have complained. Hell they could have even talked it up about it being so big it needed lube haha
    Reply
  • ThatMouse
    Jonny Guru just lost all credibility for me. User error and dialectic grease - what nonsense.
    Reply
  • husker
    ThatMouse said:
    Jonny Guru just lost all credibility for me. User error and dialectic grease - what nonsense.
    I agree that blaming the customer is not the answer, but he still may be correct about the root cause of the problem. The plausibility and/or correctness of his explanation, as far as I'm concerned, is the standard for judging his credibility. Clearly his expertise is in power supply issues, not customer relations.
    Reply