The issue of melting connectors on expensive Nvidia GPUs keeps cropping up. A German company is about to launch a gadget that aims to actively counteract this problem.
The Nvidia Geforce RTX 4090 was released almost three years ago. However, the switch to the 12VHPWR connector at that time to transfer the 450 watts of power consumption also brought with it a new problem: melting connectors.
Even the new revision in the form of the 12V-2×6 connector only helped to a limited extent, especially since the new RTX 5090 consumes even more power at 575 watts.
Reports of melted connectors appear on social media from time to time – a German manufacturer from Göttingen has now come up with its own solution for this problem.
The “Ampinel” gadget promises a hardware-based balance
This manufacturer is “Aqua Computer,” based in Gleichen near Göttingen.
The company, which actually specializes in water cooling, recently announced the “Ampinel” gadget, which aims to remedy a circumstance of the official 12VHPWR specification on its own.
- Classic 8-pin connectors have a maximum of 150 watts at 12 volts – i.e., around 12.5 amps. Even under full load, the actual current remained within a controllable range.
- In the current 12VHPWR standard (and also in the subsequent 12V-2×6), the cables are bundled; at the same time, there is no longer any individual monitoring.
- With a maximum specified power consumption of 600 watts, up to 50 amps can flow here at 12 volts, which explains the occasional melting of connectors due to excessive heat generation.
This is where Ampinel wants to intervene.
Unlike similar gadgets, however, it is not just a matter of monitoring the cables. Instead, the small device also wants to initiate active countermeasures in the event of an emergency.
According to the press release, this is the responsibility of a hybrid control structure that ensures that “the current flow across all six cables is actively balanced.”
In plain language: If the current on a line exceeds 7.5 amps, the Ampinel gadget activates and takes countermeasures – evenly and without delay, according to the company.
In an initial test by Igor’s Lab, the gadget appears to be performing at least adequately:
Per software for emergency shutdown
The gadget offers you a choice of different options for the countermeasures mentioned above.
- For example, the RGB strip next to the small OLED display (128 x 64 pixel resolution), which also shows you the current amperage per line, can start flashing like a warning light.
- This also includes a small buzzer that emits an audible signal to alert you to a malfunction.
- Using the accompanying software, you can also configure the program responsible for the overload to be forcibly closed – or the Sense lines of the graphics card to be interrupted immediately.
In the tool called “Aquasuite,” Ampinel also provides you with additional measurements, such as power and connector temperature.
However, you will need to be patient before the Ampinel gadget hits the market. According to the company, the first deliveries are expected in mid-November.
Aqua Computer has set the recommended retail price for Ampinel at just under 80 euros. A white version will also be available at a later date.
