RTX 5090 Connector Melts During DLSS 5 Test

DLSS 5 is NVIDIA's fifth-generation Deep Learning Super Sampling technology, an AI-powered upscaler that uses Neural Rendering to enhance gaming visuals and performance. It was launched approximately one week before the reported incident, initially supporting a very limited list of titles. The technology is designed to improve frame rates and image quality in supported games, but in this case, it allegedly contributed to a power spike that melted a 12VHPWR connector on an MSI RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC graphics card. The incident was reported by Videocardz, a hardware news and leak site, based on a reader's firsthand account.

Key Facts

What Is DLSS 5 and Why Did It Cause an RTX 5090 Connector to Melt?

DLSS 5 is NVIDIA's latest AI-powered upscaling technology featuring Neural Rendering, launched approximately one week before the reported incident. It is designed to enhance gaming performance and visual fidelity, but testing it on an MSI RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC allegedly caused the GPU's 12VHPWR connector to melt due to extreme power draw.

The incident was reported by Videocardz, which claimed one of its readers, going by the handle "erek," was testing DLSS 5 Neural Rendering with their MSI RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC while running NBA 2K27 — the only game that currently supports the upscaler — when the burnout occurred.

"the card stopped working and the smell of burnt plastic permeated the area surrounding the card"— erek, via Videocardz

DLSS 5 is NVIDIA's fifth-generation AI upscaler that allegedly caused an MSI RTX 5090's 12VHPWR connector to melt during testing of NBA 2K27, the only game currently supporting the technology.

What Power Levels Were Recorded Before the Meltdown?

According to the Videocardz report, the RTX 5090's TGP spiked from 450W under load to a sustained 600W while running DLSS 5. The MSI Gaming Trio OC is rated to run at a persistent 575W, and a GPU-Z screenshot captured by the user showed maximum board power draw reaching 613.5W.

The user noted that the 613.5W reading was board power, not power observed coursing through the 12VHPWR connector alone, so it does not necessarily mean that 600W was passing through the GPU connector. Not long after the power spike, the card stopped working, and upon inspection, the plastic around the iconic yellow connector showed signs of melting.

The RTX 5090's TGP spiked from 450W to a sustained 600W during DLSS 5 testing, with a maximum board power draw of 613.5W recorded in GPU-Z, exceeding the MSI Gaming Trio OC's 575W rated persistent power.

Is DLSS 5 Really at Fault for the Melted 12VHPWR Connector?

It is still too early to determine if DLSS 5's Neural Rendering upscaler is to blame. Melting 12VHPWR power connectors on RTX 5090 cards are not uncommon, even when precautions are taken to mitigate the issue, and the upscaler may have contributed to the burnout but may not have been the root cause.

Videocardz also reported that another RTX 5090 owner on another forum saw their card's TGP spike from 435W to 520W after injecting DLSS 5 into Hitman 3. However, the bottom line is that adding the upscaler to the mix may have contributed to the card's burnout, but it may not have been the cause of it, and therefore this could be an isolated case.

Melting 12VHPWR connectors on RTX 5090 cards are not uncommon even with precautions, and DLSS 5 may have contributed to the burnout but may not have been the root cause, making this potentially an isolated case.

Who Should Be Concerned About This Incident?

This incident is relevant to RTX 5090 owners, particularly those using MSI Gaming Trio OC cards, and gamers who plan to use DLSS 5. It highlights the power draw risks associated with Neural Rendering technology and the ongoing 12VHPWR connector melting issue affecting NVIDIA's flagship GPU.

Prior reports cited in the source material indicate that melting 12VHPWR connectors on RTX 5090 cards have occurred even when users took precautions such as making cutouts in side panels for the cable. The DLSS 5 incident adds a new variable — Neural Rendering — to the equation.

RTX 5090 owners and early DLSS 5 adopters should monitor GPU power draw closely, as the technology has been observed pushing TGP beyond rated limits in at least two reported cases.

Common Questions

What game was being played when the RTX 5090 connector melted?

The user "erek" was running NBA 2K27, which is currently the only game that supports DLSS 5 Neural Rendering, when the 12VHPWR connector on their MSI RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC melted.

What power draw did the RTX 5090 reach before the connector melted?

The GPU's TGP spiked from 450W under load to a sustained 600W, with a GPU-Z screenshot showing maximum board power draw of 613.5W. The MSI Gaming Trio OC is rated to run at a persistent 575W.

Is DLSS 5 confirmed as the cause of the melted 12VHPWR connector?

No. It is still early days to determine if DLSS 5 is to blame. Melting 12VHPWR connectors on RTX 5090 cards are not uncommon, and the upscaler may have contributed to the burnout but may not have been the root cause, making this potentially an isolated case.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a report from Videocardz (https://videocardz.com/newz/first-user-reports-rtx-5090-with-melted-connector-after-testing-dlss-5), as covered by Lowyat.NET (https://www.lowyat.net/2026/403531/nvidia-rtx-5090-12vhpwr-connector-allegedly-melted-while-testing-dlss-5/). The incident was reported by a Videocardz reader going by the handle "erek."

This article synthesizes information from the primary Videocardz report and the Lowyat.NET coverage of that report. No data was translated or converted. This article was last updated on September 2026.