The yellow 16-pin adapter from MSI continues to cause problems, and several GPUs have already suffered the consequences.
Cases of melted 16-pin connectors keep piling up, and once again, MSI is in the spotlight. In recent days, multiple users have reported serious damage to their RTX 50-series graphics cards due to the yellow 16-pin adapter included with some models, such as the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC.
5090 Killed Itself While Idling
Posts from the msi_gaming
community on Reddit
The latest incident was shared by a Reddit user, who claimed that his GPU died while idling after seven months of use. Upon inspection, he discovered that the yellow connector on the MSI adapter was completely burned, and the GPU’s port itself had changed color due to overheating. The user was using an EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G+ power supply, which lacks a native 16-pin connector, forcing him to rely on the adapter provided by MSI.
The core issue seems to be the same one affecting many gamers: 3x or 4x 8-pin to 16-pin adapters create an uneven electrical load, and MSI’s models appear to be made according to outdated specifications, increasing the risk of failure and overheating. Even though the cable in this case wasn’t bent (the user had removed the PC’s side panel), the connector still ended up melting.
Several experts recommend avoiding these adapters entirely and using native 16-pin cables, especially for high-end GPUs like the RTX 5090, which can draw up to 600 W. Brands like Corsair already offer PCIe 5.0 12V-2×6 cables designed to handle this level of power safely, without melting or causing damage.
MSI Yet to Respond Officially
So far, MSI hasn’t issued an official statement, but affected users are demanding answers for what many consider a dangerous design flaw. In the meantime, the advice is clear: if you own an MSI RTX card with a yellow connector, avoid the adapter and replace the cable before it’s too late.
