In yet another installment to the illusive NVIDIA 12VHPWR “user error” saga regarding catastrophic failures resulting in spontaneous ignition of your graphic card’s power connector, SeaSonic, one of the most respected and regarded manufacturers of power supply units have advised their customers about the issues that plague 12VHPWR or 12V-2×6 connection cables.
Just days ago in fact, CableMod have issued a massive recall on their 12VHPWR angled adapter cables, with the company proclaiming 1.0 and 1.1 variants to be both defective, with all of their angled adapters being discontinued from further sale.
Certainly, the type of adapter or cable used may not be the sole determining factor. Recently, NorthridgeFix claimed to be repairing approximately ~100 affected graphics cards per month.
Interestingly, companies like CableMod are now being scrutinized as AIB board partners shift the blame away from NVIDIA’s negligence in ensuring consumer safety and its failure to issue a global recall for the hazardous 12VHPWR power connector. This maneuver seems aimed at diverting scrutiny elsewhere, with majority of the blame being pinned on CableMod entirely.
And now seemingly as an act of defiance, consumers would genuinely rather do anything outside of buying a reliable and respectful product that isn’t hazardous, as NVIDIA have now incorporated the revised 12V-2×6 power connector across its RTX 4060, 4060 Ti and RTX 4070 line of graphics cards.
SeaSonic’s updated guidelines provide instructions for the proper use and installation of 12VHPWR and 12V-2×6 cables for GPUs. Overheating and cable melting issues were predominantly linked to the RTX 4090 GPU, attributed to its higher power consumption. However, these issues can potentially occur spontaneously during both heavy and light loads.
To mitigate problems, Seasonic recommends maintaining a specific clearance when positioning the cable and, if necessary, using a mild heat source, such as a hair dryer, to bend the cable.
Yes, you read that right, a hair dryer for bending cables.
SeaSonic’s recommendations encompass the proper installation of connectors, refraining from bending the cable after connection, and handling the cable with care near the connector. In the event that cable bending is necessary, SeaSonic advises a specific procedure of disconnecting the cable, warming it up using a gentle heat source, bending the cable and then carefully reconnect it, which is absolutely normal.
You can watch a video demonstration of using a hair dryer to bend the 12VHPWR cable in the video below:
This is undoubtedly a user error, particularly attributing the whole blame upon CableMod. The connector itself has “no inherent issues”; it simply requires adequate clearance and a secure connection.
In some cases, users may need to use a heat gun or hair dryer to warm up the power cable, bend it slightly, and then reconnect it to the graphics card to ensure proper clearance, this is absolutely normal and if you question otherwise you’re the problem.
Such unconventional workarounds are not just impractical but are laughable. NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4090 has now become a subject of ridicule, with NVIDIA seemingly unwilling to initiate a comprehensive recall on what most certainly is a flawed and hazardous product.
In other words, for the gamers who demand the best hardware available, not only will you be forced to part with $2000 for the privilege of owning the dangerous RTX 4090, but you’re also going to have to buy an accompanying hair dryer to go along with it to ensure that your GPU doesn’t fall victim to the infamous “user error”.
