If the number of users affected doesn't seem likely to be that high, you might as well not take any chances.
GeForce RTX 4090s are true monsters of power. Since their release in October 2022, they've been absolutely untouchable, making them the graphics card of choice for high-performance enthusiasts. Wealthy enthusiasts, we should add, since the card - regardless of whether it's a Founders Edition model from NVIDIA or a custom model designed by one of its partners - is still flirting with the 1,800 to 2,000 euro mark. In other words, at this price level, you get what you pay for. The problem is that a few weeks after the release of the first models, and at regular intervals since then, cast iron problems have spoiled the party. In some cases, we're talking about a melt in the 12VHPWR > 8-pin adapter, while in others we're talking about a melt in the graphics card connector. Some have even experienced both.
Seasonic
Seasonic
The phenomenon doesn't seem likely to be widespread, but remains unacceptable given the price of a GeForce RTX 4090. That's why, since the first reports, several solutions have been tried. Most recently, one of the world's leading PC power supply specialists got involved. Seasonic first took care to detail the procedure for using an adapter like the one you can find for adjusting the new 12V-2×6 connectors (already corrected from the 12VHPWR of the GeForce RTX 4090's beginnings). Seasonic does indeed point out that the first thing to do is to be careful not to bend the adapter when plugged in: it's better to bend it first and then plug it in. Seasonic's second piece of advice would almost make you smile: the brand specifies that it's best to use a " delicate heat source " to slightly raise the temperature of the part to be bent on the adapter. Seasonic doesn't hesitate to recommend the use of a hairdryer for this purpose! Other tips include gentle handling of the connectors, making sure that the connection is correct (via a little audible click) and bending over 35 millimeters of cable length.
Seasonic
More radically, Seasonic has also announced that it will shortly be offering owners of its Focus, Prime and Vertex power supplies a power cable for the graphics card. Of course, with such a 12V-2×6 cable, it will no longer be necessary to use an adapter, but for added security, Seasonic has designed a connector that is already angled. This eliminates the need to twist the cable in all directions, and reduces the risk of mishandling. Such cables are scheduled to be "tested" in January, with products sent to users ready to sign up for this "beta test" from January 10. We can logically assume that the cable will then be deployed on a large scale. Perhaps as early as February?
