Managed to upgrade my graphics card to an RTX 5080, and I'm seeing varying opinions on the internet and between manufacturers as to whether its better to use the native 12V-2X6 cable that comes with the PSU, or to use the adapter that comes with the graphics card.

What are you guys doing with your 50 series cards?

Edited December 31, 2025Dec 31 by martin-w

The biggest danger with the 50-series power cable is having a fault (e.g. bad connection, broken wire etc) anywhere along one of the paralleled power conductors, forcing the remaining power conductors to carry an overload.  The 50-series cards do not have any load sensing or overcurrent protection on the individual conductors--they share the load across them, and removing one forces the others into an overcurrent under high load conditions, which can melt the connector on the GPU and even start a fire.  It's not a theory--it has happened enough times to be a hot topic on the GPU support forums (pun intended).

I'd want the least number of potential faulty connections, which would be the native 12v-2x6 cable, as using the "spider" adapter that comes with the GPU involves connections at the PSU, the VGA-adapter interface, and the connector on the card.

That said, if you did have a fault and burned the power connector, it'd likely be a big problem with warranty coverage if using anything other than the GPU manufacturer's cable.

The ideal would be a third-party cable that is fused in each of the power conductors, so if any wire were to be forced into an overcurrent condition, it would trip a cascading failure of the fuses and prevent turning your expensive GPU and PC into an Easy-Bake oven.

1 hour ago, Bob Scott said:

It's not a theory--iit has happened enough times to be a hot topic on the GPU support forums (pun intended).

 

Yep, very true Bob. I've been following the fiasco since the weird implementation of this connector was made. I have considered Thermal Grizzly's new Wire View Pro 2 that's now available for preorder. Seems a good idea to monitor the situation. Asus, of course, monitor each conductor in their software and warn you if it's carrying too much current on one conductor, again, a very good idea.

 

1 hour ago, Bob Scott said:

I'd want the least number of potential faulty connections, which would be the native 12v-2x6 cable, as using the "spider" adapter that comes with the GPU involves connections at the PSU, the VGA-adapter interface, and the connector on the card.

That said, if you did have a fault and burned the power connector, it'd likely be a big problem with warranty coverage if using anything other than the GPU manufacturer's cable.

 

That's the dilemma, the warranty dilemma. Like you, I'd naturally opt for the minimum number of connections, so the native 12v-2x6 cable, but then I read an article recently where there seems to be differing opinions between some manufacturers, some card manufactures saying use their adapter that comes with the card and some saying use either and some saying use the PSU's native cable.

 

Quote

 

The ideal would be a third-party cable that is fused in each of the power conductors, so if any wire were to be forced into an overcurrent condition, it would trip a cascading failure of the fuses and prevent turning your expensive GPU and PC into an Easy-Bake oven.

 

 

 

 

Yep, that's why Thermal Grizzly developed the Wire View Pro 2. It sounds an alarm if there's an issue and can be configured to shut down the system.

 

https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/wireview-pro-ii-gpu/s-tg-wv-p2-h19n

 

Nine brands contacted and opinions split.

https://videocardz.com/newz/nine-brands-responded-on-whether-its-better-to-use-a-native-12v-2x6-cable-or-the-bundled-gpu-adapter

 

 

 

Edited December 31, 2025Dec 31 by martin-w

17 hours ago, martin-w said:

Asus, of course, monitor each conductor in their software and warn you if it's carrying too much current on one conductor, again, a very good idea.

Yes, that’s the solution I went with. Using their dedicated cable and their ROG Thor III PSU, not cheap though!

Edited January 1Jan 1 by SierraDelta

4 hours ago, SierraDelta said:

Yes, that’s the solution I went with. Using their dedicated cable and their ROG Thor III PSU, not cheap though!

 

The Asus PSU doesn't monitor the connector does it? Its Asus GPU Tweak 3 software that does but only with certain Asus cards, the Astral I recall.

Smart PSU's and cables to mitigate this issue are destined to arrive in 2026 apparently. First quarter for Seasonic Optiguard. 

https://share.google/3AJAGaa8FBAZIsFMd

Mine is an Asus card but not one that has the connector conductors monitored by the software. 

Edited January 1Jan 1 by martin-w

 

 

 

6 hours ago, martin-w said:

The Asus PSU doesn't monitor the connector does it? Its Asus GPU Tweak 3 software that does but only with certain Asus cards, the Astral I recall.

Correct Martin and mine is an Astral. Honestly I don't run GPU Tweak 3 constantly, maybe once a week, so far no problems.

I might actually get the Wireview Pro II, looks quite clever!

19 hours ago, SierraDelta said:

I might actually get the Wireview Pro II, looks quite clever!

 

Isn't compatible with my Asus card. Socket too deep. For now anyway.

I might pick up the Seasonic PSU with Optiguard when it arrives in a few months. 

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/power-supplies/msi-teases-new-power-supplies-with-instant-protection-against-melting-rtx-5090-cables-promises-to-solve-12v-2x6-connector-woes-by-monitoring-individual-wires

30 minutes ago, G-RFRY said:

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/power-supplies/msi-teases-new-power-supplies-with-instant-protection-against-melting-rtx-5090-cables-promises-to-solve-12v-2x6-connector-woes-by-monitoring-individual-wires

 

Nice to know other PSU manufacturers are doing the same and there will be alternatives. 

Looks like Asrock have a cable with thermal protection.

 

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/asrocks-usd40-16-pin-power-cable-has-overheating-protection-to-prevent-meltdowns-a-90-degree-design-ensures-worry-free-installation

https://overclock3d.net/news/gpu-displays/asrock-12v-2x6-cables-save-rtx-5090-from-connector-meltdown/

 

Quote

The ASRock 12V-2x6 power cable, rated for 105 degrees Celsius, aims to attack the 16-pin power connector meltdowns from all angles. What really sets the ASRock 12V-2x6 power cable apart from the competition is the overheating protection. The company has implemented a tiny NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) sensor on the power connector that goes to the graphics card. It essentially monitors the temperature and sends the signal to the power supply.