Modders have successfully adapted an unreleased Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics card to run on standard 8-pin power connectors, bypassing the newer, and sometimes problematic, 12VHPWR (now 12V-2x6) standard. The experiment, conducted by TecLab and reported by Wccftech, suggests that the industry's reliance on the 12VHPWR connector may be reconsidered, especially in light of past "melty cable" incidents associated with the RTX 4090.
TecLab fitted three 8-pin connectors to the back of the RTX 5090's PCB using custom copper plates. These were then connected to the power supply via 24 individual cables, forming three sets of eight 8-pin connections. After unlocking the card to operate at higher power levels, the modified GPU was put through its paces.
The results were reportedly impressive, with the modders expressing surprise at the thermal performance. "It's getting warmer. It's still colder than a 12VHPWR connector. It's colder than the original connector, guys," one of the modders stated, urging Nvidia to release its own data. The experiment even showed the card reaching over 3,300 MHz in the Port Royal benchmark using only two 8-pin cables, significantly exceeding the stock RTX 5090's typical boost clock of around 2,400 MHz. Crucially, even under these demanding conditions, the 8-pin cables remained notably cool.
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This modification challenges the notion that a high-density connector like the 12VHPWR is essential for high-power GPUs. While standard 8-pin connectors are typically rated for 150W each, suggesting a maximum of 450W for a three-connector setup, the RTX 5090 has a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 575W. TecLab's testing indicated that these 8-pin cables could handle power draws above their official specification without issue, remaining cooler than the 12VHPWR connector often experienced problems with.
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Even when using a single 8-pin cable and pushing clock speeds above 3,200 MHz, the cable temperature reached only 91–92 °C, with no signs of melting. The modders noted that the industry's 150W specification for 8-pin connectors does not appear to have a firm, universally enforced limit in practice. Given the documented issues with the 12VHPWR connector, this successful modification using older, more reliable standards raises questions about Nvidia's future power connector choices for its high-end graphics cards.