A custom power conversion kit for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 replaces the card's controversial 16 pin power connection with four conventional 8 pin PCIe connectors, with the creator claiming the design significantly reduces current passing through each individual terminal.
The modification was developed by Reddit user DallasGrave and is intended to address concerns surrounding melting 12VHPWR and 12V 2x6 connectors on high power graphics cards.
Instead of attaching an adapter to the existing 16 pin connector, the kit mounts directly above the graphics card and uses a custom wiring harness soldered to the GPU's PCB power rails.
This allows the native 16 pin connection to be bypassed entirely.
Four 8 Pin Connectors Spread the Load Across More Pins
The main idea behind the modification is simple. Rather than sending as much as 600W through one compact connector, the electrical load is divided between four larger 8 pin PCIe plugs.
Each standard 8 pin PCIe connector is rated for up to 150W. Four connectors therefore provide a combined rated capacity of 600W.
| Power configuration | 16 pin connector | Four 8 pin connectors |
|---|---|---|
| Rated power considered | 600W | 600W total |
| Approximate current at 12V | 50A | 50A total |
| Power carrying pins | 6 | 12 |
| Current per power pin at 600W | About 8.33A | About 4.17A |
| Connection style | Compact single connector | Four larger connectors |
The difference is the number of pins available to carry the current.
At 600W and 12V, the GPU draws approximately 50A. With six power carrying pins in the 16 pin design, each pin carries around 8.33A.
Using four 8 pin connectors provides 12 power pins in total, reducing the theoretical load to around 4.17A per pin.
That is roughly half the current per terminal.
Lower Current Per Pin Could Reduce Heat
The smaller current load on each terminal is intended to reduce resistance related heating around the connector.
According to PCI SIG specifications cited in the report, each of the six power pins used by the 16 pin connector is rated for a maximum of 9.5A.
A 600W GPU drawing approximately 50A would therefore place each pin at about 8.33A, relatively close to that stated limit.
The four 8 pin configuration spreads the same total load over twice as many power pins.
Traditional 8 pin PCIe connectors are not completely immune to overheating or melting, but similar failures have historically been reported less frequently than issues involving high power 16 pin GPU connections.
The larger physical size and wider spacing between terminals also give the older connector format different thermal characteristics.
The Kit Connects Directly to the RTX 5090 PCB
This is not a simple plug in adapter.
The custom harness has to connect directly to the graphics card's PCB power rails, making the modification substantially more invasive than replacing a cable.
The conversion kit also manipulates the sense connections normally used by the 16 pin interface so that the graphics card recognizes a full 600W power configuration.
The creator claims the system has been tested at up to 800W using a shunt modified RTX 5090.
That figure goes beyond the normal 600W configuration and reflects the modder's testing rather than an official specification or guarantee.
The kit can reportedly operate as the GPU's primary power source or alongside the original 16 pin connector as a parallel load sharing system.
More RTX 5090 Versions Are Planned
DallasGrave is also developing a custom backplate intended to make the modification look more integrated once installed.
The project is not expected to remain limited to one RTX 5090 design.
The creator says versions are being prepared for nearly every major RTX 5090 variant, including NVIDIA's Founders Edition.
Pricing, an official release date and final installation details have not yet been announced.
Those details will matter because a modification involving direct PCB connections is very different from an ordinary cable replacement and may not be suitable for inexperienced PC builders.
The project arrives while RTX 5090 availability remains extremely constrained, with some retail listings reaching very high prices. Reports of production changes have also circulated, although NVIDIA has separately denied that the RTX 5090 has been discontinued.
For owners of an expensive RTX 5090, the appeal of the mod is straightforward: instead of trying to improve the existing 16 pin connection, it replaces the power delivery path with a larger collection of established 8 pin connectors and cuts the theoretical current carried by each power pin roughly in half.
Discussion (0)
Be the first to comment.