Brasky:

Just from my middle school science knowledge, would it make a difference to use copper as the conductor instead of whatever cheap silver metal they are currently using?

Cost?

Brasky:

Just from my middle school science knowledge, would it make a difference to use copper as the conductor instead of whatever cheap silver metal they are currently using?

pegasus1:

Cost?

From my middle school science knowledge, I'd say yes @Brasky ... and yes @pegasus1 Thing is, copper's more expensive (but honestly not that much at all) but got better conductivity, but corrodes (which could happen in humid conditions, and cripples surface conductivity especially with plugs), why it's not always used. So I'm not totally sure, but I could imagine that it's actually copper with nickel on top (so you can actually solder it to the plugs). But I'm not sure, anybody got real intel here?

I see that only two brands are affected: Asus TUF and Gigabyte? Is this correct?

fantaskarsef:

From my middle school science knowledge, I'd say yes @Brasky ... and yes @pegasus1 Thing is, copper's more expensive (but honestly not that much at all) but got better conductivity, but corrodes (which could happen in humid conditions, and cripples surface conductivity especially with plugs), why it's not always used. So I'm not totally sure, but I could imagine that it's actually copper with nickel on top (so you can actually solder it to the plugs). But I'm not sure, anybody got real intel here?

Brass is a common material for contacts and pins. It is inexpensive, has good conductivity and is generally dependable in office & home environment. Phosphor bronze and Beryllium copper are the other two materials most commonly used. For coating nickel, gold, tin or rhodium is used.

That like having 3/4 to 1/16 on some leaking faucet (14AWG on thin ass terminal).

The trend now is for the bad quality of the adapter - not the bending process during installation/cable management.

Zooke:

Qi Lin (Nvidia Principal Product Manager) a few days ago, "This connector, all the issues have been fixed and we are very confident in it" Qi Lin (Nvidia Principal Product Manager) today, 'Doh!'

He is not chilling anymore

To get a feeling of temps for myself, I did a quick test: my CPU working range is approx. ambient room to 80°C with custom H2O loop. my GPU, a R9 280x air cooled load up to 300W via 2x PCIe8pin connectors + 75W approx. from PCIe3.0 bus, 1h FurMark, closed Cosmos II PC case: connectors at max 51°C. I can touch them, easily, no problem, but heat certainly comes from GPU/ RAM@90°C, pcb@70° approx., not from bad connectors nor cables.

barbacot:

I see that only two brands are affected: Asus TUF and Gigabyte? Is this correct?

It's the Adapter, not the card.

Even with my very limited soldering experience, I can say that connections soldered like that can easily break if you start bending the cable up and/or down. You are relying solely on the quality of soldering to hold that cable in place. It's just bad practice to have soldered joints like that on a cable that can be moved about, and something you learn very quickly after soldering a few connections of your own. Think of how many cabled items you own that have reinforcement where the cable joins the appliance, this is to stop the wires moving about at the point they join the circuit board and prevent just this type of thing.

Pale:

Interesting. According to Igor's Lab, it's solely NVIDIA's poorly manufactured adapter, and not the new power plug standard itself which is to blame: https://www.igorslab.de/en/adapter-of-the-gray-analyzed-nvidias-brand-hot-12vhpwr-adapter-with-built-in-breakpoint/

Yeah Igor also says Be Quiet the PSU manufacturer told Nvidia R&D department about the problem also.

The problem is not the 12VHPWR connection as such, nor the repeated plugging or unplugging. Standard compliant power supply cables from brand manufacturers are NOT affected by this so far. The current trigger is NVIDIA’s own adapter to 4x 8-pin in the accessories, whose inferior quality can lead to failures and has already caused damage in single cases. Splitting each of the four 14AWG leads onto each of the 6 pins in the 12VHPWR connector of the adapter by soldering them onto bridges that are much too thin is dangerous because the ends of the leads can break off at the solder joint (e.g., when kinked or bent several times). Bending or kinking the wires directly at the connector of the adapter puts too much pressure on the solder joints and bridges, so that they can break off. The inner bridge between the pins is too thin (resulting cross section) to compensate the current flow on two or three instead of four connected 12V lines. NVIDIA has already been informed in advance and the data and pictures were also provided by be quiet! directly to the R&D department.

TheDeeGee:

It's the Adapter, not the card.

Yes but the adapter can damage the card itself.

Undying:

Yes but the adapter can damage the card itself.

Yes, it can. Though a molten connector can be replaced.

fantaskarsef:

From my middle school science knowledge, I'd say yes @Brasky ... and yes @pegasus1 Thing is, copper's more expensive (but honestly not that much at all) but got better conductivity, but corrodes (which could happen in humid conditions, and cripples surface conductivity especially with plugs), why it's not always used. So I'm not totally sure, but I could imagine that it's actually copper with nickel on top (so you can actually solder it to the plugs). But I'm not sure, anybody got real intel here?

Because connectors are a science in themselves, better ask Molex, but from my experience as a hobby OC: Direct soldering the wires does not necessarily has to be the better connection, in respect of quality of solder/ solder resistance itself. It depends very much on transition resistance between wire itself and pins in connector (crimped) and plug and pin surfaces. Low surface transition resistance means lower heat, simply put. Many connectors have special surfaces because of durability as well, a gold plated connector can be plugged in and out more often than e.g. a zinc alloy + transition resistance of gold plated pin is lower. Small connectors e.g. are much more sensitive. It depends very much on size, pin + housing material and of course maybe most important, craftsmanship of manufacturer !!. This is why a 100% perfect connection with good quality connectors and cables is so much important, especially with high loads. Think about: a $2000 card failing, causing a fire, because of a bad 10c connector or cable. Or because of "wrong bending"..... Edit: Today, how can a normal user gamer or customer know this? I would´t know that either, but over 10y (or 15y? don´t know any more) ago when we started with OC, just for fun, we had to crimp cable connectors ourselves, you could´t go to a shop and buy one ready made...and even today pay even more attention on quality when you buy!! This is why I blame Nvidia so much telling us "don´t bend the cable too much", really is a joke... Yeahhhh, found it, here we go:

After reading Igor's Lab latest about this connector, I'm not taking any chances. My 3080 will do fine until my connector from Cablemods arrives.

Pale:

Interesting. According to Igor's Lab, it's solely NVIDIA's poorly manufactured adapter, and not the new power plug standard itself which is to blame: https://www.igorslab.de/en/adapter-of-the-gray-analyzed-nvidias-brand-hot-12vhpwr-adapter-with-built-in-breakpoint/

So Nvidia tried to save a few cents on a power adapter from a 2.000€ video card...

H83:

So Nvidia tried to save a few cents on a power adapter from a 2.000€ video card...

Welcome to the late 20th / 21st century. Penny pinching because maximum profit is more important than a quality product.

I talk the talk but walk the walk I ordered 2 cables from aliexpress and will test them at work with a current supply and multimeter..not sure I can produce 60A tough my line of work is more in the nA 😉

jose2016:

Well, put a hard plastic cover up to where you can start bending the cable. Or a sticker indicating it on the cable.

Or you know, design it in a way that is not so easy to melt. All they had to do was to take already existing reliable 50A connector...

Devid:

No matter what's the outcome, many users will pause their purchase from now I can tell.

No, people are still going to buy it because most people will not check reviews before they buy, let alone checking if there are problems

AuerX:

Oh I realize and work with the restrictions, just dont think a halfassed power connector should be one of them. I'm sure there will be options down the road, always is.

I doubt there are any SFF cases that this card will fit into.