GoKawiilRTX 5090 power draw hits 647W, 16-pin connector tops 91°C with DLSS 5 on
Korean outlet QuasarZone tested the GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition running Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with DLSS 5 enabled, recording peak power draw near 650W and a 16-pin (12VHPWR) connector temperature of 91.7 degrees Celsius, higher than the GPU die itself. The RTX 5080 also showed a temperature rise with DLSS 5 on, though smaller in magnitude than the 5090's.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Reports of 12VHPWR connectors melting have circulated for both Nvidia and AMD cards, and these test results suggest DLSS 5's added power demand could push already-hot connectors closer to failure thresholds. The findings may raise questions among buyers and reviewers about whether current 16-pin connector designs can safely handle the power loads that newer upscaling features require.
- QuasarZone measured RTX 5090 power draw peaking near 647W with DLSS 5 enabled.
- The 16-pin power connector reached 91.7°C, exceeding the GPU die's own temperature.
- Connector melting reports already exist for both Nvidia and AMD cards, predating this test.
CableMod 12VHPWR Angled Adapter — With RTX 5090 power connectors running dangerously hot, a well-made 12VHPWR cable solution can help ensure proper seating and reduce bend stress that contributes to overheating. CableMod's angled adapters are designed specifically to relieve strain on the connector pins, which is exactly the kind of precaution DLSS 5's extra power draw makes worthwhile.
See CableMod 12VHPWR Angled Adapter on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Zhiye Liu, 2026-09-25
Published there as: “Nvidia DLSS 5 power draw hits 647W as power connector runs hotter than the GPU die, upscales frame rates and flame temps on 16-pin”
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