A user reported a rare issue with a ZOTAC RTX 5070 graphics card when the power cable caught fire seconds after system startup. Unlike common melting problems seen with RTX 5080 and 5090 models, this incident affected only the cable, not the connector itself. The user discovered a pin completely missing from the 12-pin power connector on the graphics card after inspecting the damage.
Experts find this unusual because the 12V-2x6 connector should work even with missing pins, especially for cards like the RTX 5070 that need less power. The design flaw in these 12-pin connectors seems responsible for ongoing issues across NVIDIA's latest graphics cards. Luckily for this user, both the power supply and graphics card connectors escaped damage, though the card was clearly defective.
The RTX 5070 requires just 250 watts and could have used standard dual 8-pin connectors instead of the problematic 12V-2x6 design. The melting issues that plagued earlier generations continue with the RTX 50 series cards. Many believe that NVIDIA needs to completely redesign these connectors as graphics cards demand more power than ever before.
Experts find this unusual because the 12V-2x6 connector should work even with missing pins, especially for cards like the RTX 5070 that need less power. The design flaw in these 12-pin connectors seems responsible for ongoing issues across NVIDIA's latest graphics cards. Luckily for this user, both the power supply and graphics card connectors escaped damage, though the card was clearly defective.
The RTX 5070 requires just 250 watts and could have used standard dual 8-pin connectors instead of the problematic 12V-2x6 design. The melting issues that plagued earlier generations continue with the RTX 50 series cards. Many believe that NVIDIA needs to completely redesign these connectors as graphics cards demand more power than ever before.
