Nvidia’s Blackwell GPU series is facing renewed scrutiny after an RTX 5070 owner reported a melted power cable. While these incidents remain rare, they highlight potential design flaws that could impact the RTX 50 series, including less power-hungry cards.
The latest case, documented by X user ere9w, involved a Zotac RTX 5070 paired with a 750-watt Seasonic PSU in a new gaming rig. Moments after powering on, smoke emerged, revealing a melted cable rather than the GPU’s 12V-2×6 connector.
The user noticed a damaged pin on the GPU’s power connector
In response to the similar issues with the RTX 4090 series, Nvidia initially blamed improper seating before endorsing the revised 12V-2×6 configuration. While inspecting the GPU, Ere9w noticed a damaged pin on the GPU’s power connector. Judging from the difficulty of misaligning the two parts, many users suggested it was a manufacturing defect. The user also insisted on proper installation.
This incident echoes findings from overclocker Der8auer, who analyzed an RTX 5090 with a melted connector and cable. Using thermal imaging, he identified uneven current distribution, with some wires carrying excess load. The 12V-2×6 design lacks a mechanism to monitor pin-specific power draw, leading to poor load balancing and overheating. This flaw now appears to affect the RTX 5070 and 5080, not just the power-hungry 5090. It raises questions about the series’ reliability.
Nvidia’s silence (as of writing) leaves gamers wary, especially with the high cost of these GPUs. While the RTX 40 series prompted a connector fix, the RTX 50 series’ issues suggest unresolved challenges in Blackwell’s architecture. Users investing in these cards—priced upwards of $500—face risks of damage, potentially voiding warranties if deemed user error. Until Nvidia addresses this, the melted cable reports could dampen enthusiasm for the otherwise promising RTX 50 lineup.
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