Reports are growing regarding issues with the 16-pin connectors on high-performance graphics cards. A new instance has emerged involving the Sapphire RX 9070 XT Nitro+, raising concerns over the reliability of these components. Users have reported problems despite their GPUs remaining operational, yet gaming and other tasks have become problematic.
Latest Incident of Connector Melting
Instances of 16-pin connector melting are on the rise, with the Sapphire RX 9070 XT Nitro+ being the latest model affected by this issue. This marks the second reported case, adding to concerns about the reliability of these connectors. Although the GPU itself requires modest power consumption, it remains susceptible to overheating. Fortunately, only two Radeon RX 9070 XT models incorporate this connector: the ASRock RX 9070 XT Taichi and the Sapphire RX 9070 XT Nitro+.
Recently, user u/ProfessionalHost3913 shared images showcasing a melted 16-pin connector from their adapter used with the Sapphire RX 9070 XT Nitro+. The damage mirrors a previous incident, with the top row pins of the connector melting completely. Somewhat similar to the previous case, the connector’s bottom row is also affected, though confined to the adapter alone.
Implications and User Experiences
According to the user, they adhered to the GPU’s manual instructions by using the provided adapter, leading to the unfortunate burning. Yet, remarkably, the connector still powers the GPU. Thankfully, the GPU connector remains unaffected, but the user experiences random blackouts on their monitor during gaming or browsing activities.
Users like him are forced to reboot their PCs to regain functionality, indicating that the GPU fails to obtain sufficient power for even moderate tasks. The affected user has applied for an RMA, highlighting the ongoing troubles with 16-pin connectors. This incident underscores the inherent design flaws of 16-pin connectors, making them a notorious issue in the GPU world. In this specific case, a Cooler Master 80 Gold 850W V2 PSU was used, which should adequately support the RX 9070 XT, despite lacking a native 16-pin connector.
There are various theories as to why this melting occurs, but the fundamental design flaw in 16-pin connectors seems to facilitate such occurrences.