DLSS 5 causes RTX 5090 GPU connector to melt during testing
A user reported that DLSS 5 caused an MSI GeForce RTX 5090 GPU's power connector to overheat and melt during testing in NBA 2K27, with power consumption exceeding the card's rated specifications. The connector failure damaged multiple pins and rendered the hardware non-functional.
What happened
A user testing DLSS 5 in NBA 2K27 on an MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC reported that the 16-pin power connector melted during gameplay. According to the user, the power consumption of the GPU increased from approximately 450 W to over 610 W when DLSS 5 was enabled, exceeding the card's rated TDP of 575 W and causing the plastic connector to fuse with the socket.
CPU-Z and GPU-Z readings showed sustained power consumption above 610 W during DLSS 5 testing, while the 16-pin connector is theoretically rated to handle up to 600 W plus an additional 75 W from the PCIe slot. The connector became so damaged that disconnecting the power cable was difficult due to melted plastic bonding the connector to the card's socket.
Reported impact
The MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC became non-functional after the connector failure. Multiple pins on the 16-pin power connector showed significant damage from overheating.
Index analysis
DLSS 5 uses AI-assisted rendering that substantially increases computational load on the GPU compared to standard rasterization. The technology's power demands exposed a weakness in the connection between the power supply and the graphics card, either due to insufficient connector specifications or improper seating of the connector.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.