Since the introduction of GeForce RTX 50 graphics cards, incidents involving overheating of the 12VHPWR connectors have been reported regularly. This flaw affects, in particular, the RTX 5090, which requires the maximum capacity of this connection. Given this scenario, the community of gamers and enthusiasts themselves have been looking for solutions, such as the development of a computer application that monitors the electrical current of each connection cable and, if necessary, turns off the system to protect the card.
A user known as CoolerThanNos introduced his tool on the NVIDIA subreddit, designed specifically for owners of RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 ASUS ROG Astral cards. The developer himself explained that his program is restricted to these models because only they allow independent reading of each of the 16 cables that make up the 12VHPWR connection.
If the system detects a current greater than 9.5 amps for a continuous period of 15 seconds, the software triggers the computer to automatically shut down to prevent damage. The creator of the tool detailed that the safety limit established by ASUS for these connectors is 9.2 amps.
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Amid the comments, another Reddit user, identified as tomz17, expressed concern about the slowness of the shutdown process, indicating that the delay could allow damage to occur. Tomz17 introduced its own innovation, which employs thermistors positioned on each side of the connector for more accurate thermal monitoring. Interestingly, the author of the first application admitted the superiority of tomz17’s solution and expressed his intention to adopt it.
Thus, for users who have an RTX 5090 ASUS ROG Astral, both alternatives are available. The first, based on the application, appears as a more accessible option, requiring only the installation of lightweight software on the Windows system. The second, although considered more efficient, requires basic knowledge in electronics for its implementation.
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Other community members on Reddit, who own RTX 5090 cards from different manufacturers, describe the issue of the 12VHPWR connector melting as unpredictable. There are reports of cards that developed the defect after more than a year of use, while other owners continue without problems even after a similar period.
The situation, however, reflects negatively on NVIDIA, since the protection of hardware as valuable as the RTX 5090 – with costs reaching more than R$25,000 in the Brazilian market – falls to the initiative of consumers themselves. This scenario highlights the need for more effective solutions from manufacturers for such a critical component.