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NVIDIA RTX 5090 power connector reported to have caught fire
Friday, December 26, 2025 at 01:33 PM
A reported instance of an NVIDIA RTX 5090 graphics card 16-pin power connector melting and catching fire has emerged, showing severe damage to the hardware.
Context
NVIDIA is facing renewed reliability concerns after reports surfaced that an RTX 5090 16-pin power connector caught fire, leaving the hardware unrecognizable. Despite launching in early 2025 with a revised 12V-2x6 connector designed specifically to prevent such failures, the flagship card continues to struggle with thermal issues at high loads. The latest failure reportedly occurred while the card was drawing upwards of 500W, raising fears of a systemic flaw in the $1,999 halo product.
This incident is a significant headwind for NVIDIA’s consumer segment, as the Blackwell-based card was intended to resolve the "Meltgate" controversy that plagued the previous generation. With a maximum rated power draw of 575W, the RTX 5090 pushes single-cable power delivery to its absolute limit. Continued reports of fire hazards could necessitate costly redesigns or widespread RMAs, potentially impacting margins and consumer trust as the company maintains its dominant 94% share of the discrete GPU market.
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