"High temperatures spike swiftly on Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, posing potential risks"
Fashioning a New Report
A scorching piece of news recently surfaced from the tech world, as Andreas Schilling, a revered tech journo hailing from Germany, shared some shocking thermal images on various platforms, potentially tarnishing Nvidia's reputation like a sizzling RTX 5090 graphics card could sear your fingers. Schilling, serving as an editor at Hardware Luxx, posted images of an Inno3D GeForce RTX 5090 Frostbite and his PC's PSU (power supply unit). The images unveil extreme hotspots where the power cable connected to the GPU and PSU, reaching over 150 degrees Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit), temperatures perilously hot enough to inflict third-degree burns.
Schilling declared that the 12-volt 2x6-pin cable connecting the GPU to the PSU peaked at over 150 degrees Celsius (Fahrenheit equivalent). Such unusually high temperatures pose a threat to users and their PC hardware.
"150+ degrees [Celsius] is way too much. The plastic might not have started to melt, but this can get dangerous very quickly," Schilling asserted to our website via email.
Extreme temperatures could potentially damage various PC components, including the GPU, PSU, and other crucial hardware. Therefore, if fortune smiles upon you and you manage to secure an RTX 5090, it would be prudent to take extra precautions with the power cable and its connection to the GPU.
"At the moment my advice to every owner and buyer of the GeForce RTX 5090: You should use the 8-pin to 12VHPWR/12V-2x6 adapter," Schilling emphasized to our website.
Schilling clarified that this issue is not a unique predicament of the specific RTX 5090 model he was testing. Instead, he explained, "It's not a problem of the specific graphics card (in this case the INNO3D GeForce RTX 5090 Frostbite) or any other vendor. I've seen uneven distribution of the currents with a few different models of the GeForce RTX 5090 with different cables and PSUs."
Cautious Gamers and the RTX 50-series: Tread Carefully
Schilling's temperature readings emerged just a few weeks after users started reporting similar thermal issues with the RTX 5090. For instance, a Reddit user experienced the destruction of their RTX 5090, thanks to a melted PSU connector. Schilling's thermal images seem to corroborate that the RTX 5090 encounters some severe heat management and power draw issues. Regrettably, this is not an isolated occurrence.
Nvidia's RTX 4090 also faced similar issues during its launch in 2022, including the same excessive power draw snag that led to the melting of power cables. To Nvidia's credit, user error was discovered to play a role in that predicament, and Nvidia honored warranty replacements for users whose RTX 4090 GPUs sustained damage. However, it's hard to overlook the emerging pattern here.
There's no doubt that Nvidia has spearheaded the GPU market for years, pushing the boundaries with AI and DLSS. Yet, it's all the more disheartening to witness yet another generation of powerful, pricy graphics cards face numerous hurdles at launch. After all, it's tough to genuinely appreciate DLSS 4 when your RTX 5090 gives up the ghost due to a melted power cable.
For now, it's prudent for gamers to save their coins, given that it's still quite tricky to find the RTX 5090 in stock at retailers. The less-powerful RTX 5080 faces problems too, with some units missing ROPs, resulting in diminished performance compared to fault-free units.
Nvidia hinted that it might add Multi Frame Generation, the most captivating new feature in DLSS 4, to older 40-series and 30-series GPUs in due time. Considering those GPUs are cheaper and easier to obtain, they may still be the optimal choice for most gamers.
Remember, AMD remains a noteworthy alternative, particularly for mid-range gamers. AMD introduced its new generation of GPUs last month with the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, both priced significantly lower than Nvidia's RTX 5080 and RTX 5090.
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- Nvidia RTX 50-Series reviews look grim: A slow start or a GPU generation gone to waste?
- Nvidia's new RTX GPU is melting PCs... again
Notable Insights:
- Power connector meltings were previously observed with the RTX 4090, indicating a recurring issue in Nvidia's graphics cards.
- AI and DLSS have been significant strides made by Nvidia in the GPU market.
- AMD's latest GPU generation may serve as a competitive and budget-friendly alternative to the RTX 50-series for gamers.
- Liquid cooling solutions are recommended for managing the high heat generated by the RTX 5090 effectively.
- Inadequate cabling and restricted airflow around connectors can exacerbate heat issues. Regular maintenance is essential to prevent oxidation and ensure good contact.
- Examining GPU temperatures during operation can help prevent overheating, while proper installation minimizes fretting failure.
- The extreme heat generated by the Nvidia RTX 5090 has been causing concerns among gamers and tech enthusiasts, with temperatures reaching over 150 degrees Celsius, posing a potential danger to users and their hardware.
- In light of these thermal issues, Schilling, an editor at Hardware Luxx, advises RTX 5090 owners to use an 8-pin to 12VHPWR/12V-2x6 adapter to manage the excessive power draw.
- This is not a unique issue to the Inno3D GeForce RTX 5090 Frostbite model, as Schilling has observed similar problems with different RTX 5090 models from various vendors.
- The RTX 4090 also faced similar issues during its launch in 2022, with some units experiencing melted power cables due to excessive power draw.
- With concerns about the reliability of the RTX 50-series and the ongoing challenges of finding them in stock, it may be wise for gamers to consider alternative options, such as AMD's RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, which are priced significantly lower than the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090.
