The story of the 12V-2x6 power connector overheating is almost as old as the original 12VHPWR connector itself, and the improved 12V-2x6 still faces issues common to the 12-pin GPU power connector family. Recently, another instance of a burning 12V-2x6 connector was reported, this time on a Sapphire Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU. A user named u/ProfessionalHost3913 shared images on the r/AMD subreddit showing his Sapphire Radeon RX 9070 XT with a burned connector end on the GPU. According to the user, the GPU was running at its default settings, with no overclocking or increased power limits, during gaming sessions of Battlefield 6, Cyberpunk 2077, Outerworlds, Minecraft, and others.

The issue appears to arise from powering the GPU with a regular PSU that lacks a native 12V-2x6 output. Instead, the GPU was connected using a 3x8-pin adaptor rather than directly to an ATX 3.1 PSU. These adaptors have been known to cause melted connectors. This problem was first observed in August, highlighting a recurring theme for new builders: to prevent this situation, avoid using last-generation PSUs and opt for an ATX 3.1 PSU design whenever possible to eliminate the need for adaptors. As more companies adopt the 12V-2x6 power source for their GPU designs, gamers might consider investing in ATX 3.1 PSUs to ensure their systems can power future generations of GPUs.

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