Zotac RTX 5090 Goes Up In Smoke But 16-Pin Connector Isn’t To Blame!?
Ever since graphics cards transitioned to the 12VHPWR AKA the 12V-2×6 power connector, PC enthusiasts have been understandably paranoid, as there are regular stories of the connectors melting and subsequently killing graphics cards. We have seen power supply manufacturers color-code their connectors to guarantee they are fully plugged in, and cooling specialists release dedicated monitoring tools, such as those from Thermal Grizzly, just to keep track of voltage and temperatures at the plug, and power supply brands are now providing layers of protection to the cable via digital monitoring. However, a recent catastrophic hardware failure reminds us that power cables are not the only danger, sometimes, the cards just go boom. Sorry, hope you weren’t planning on getting any sleep tonight.
A report shared on Reddit by user u/_CurrentlyPooping_, a classic example of a reddit username, offered up details how their Zotac RTX 5090 Solid Edition graphics card met a smokey end. While some early online speculation suggested the card was brand new, the user clarified that the system had actually been running perfectly fine for about a year with no hardware changes.
Five Minutes of Gaming and a Cloud of Smoke
According to, uhm, the user, the incident occurred shortly after they updated to the latest 610.74 NVIDIA drivers to play the recently released Black Flag Resynced. Just five minutes into the tutorial, the PC shut down following a loud pop and crackling sound, which was immediately followed by a large cloud of smoke billowing from the chassis. Upon inspecting the components, the owner discovered that the notorious 16-pin power connector was completely pristine, albeit it’s never a good sign of the current connector when that’s the first thing you think to check! Instead, the physical damage was concentrated on the PCIe interface.
Zotac RTX 5090 PCB Damage
Images shared by the user show a distinct burn mark localised on the small gold finger tail of the PCIe connection. To us, this suggest that the failure was likely a short circuit occurring near the MLCC capacitor array.
While a definitive cause cannot be established without a professional post-mortem, it does point to some form of structural damage, such as PCB cracking. Modern flagship graphics cards are incredibly heavy, and the physical stress of GPU sag can put immense pressure on the PCIe slot and the GPU its self. Over time, this mechanical strain can cause microscopic cracks in the circuit board traces directly above the PCIe connector, leading to a short circuit when high current flows through the board.
Proper anti-sag support is important, even more so when possibly moving your PC case, as the shift in weight can be dramatic for suspended components like coolers and GPUs. There is also the possibility of minor damage occurring during the initial installation. If an exceptionally heavy card is forced into a motherboard slot at an awkward angle, or if it is not seated perfectly straight, the copper layers of the PCB can easily fracture before the system is even powered on. Albeit, the issues might not present themselves straightaway.
While the user prepares to send the components away for an RMA assessment, the incident serves as a stark warning. Keeping your power cables secure is only half the battle; ensuring your graphics card is properly supported, maintained and cooled is just as critical to protecting your investment. And of course, sometimes, hardware just dies in a cloud of smoke for seemingly no reason other than you’re playing an Ubisoft game.
