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| The offending 12VHPWR connector on the Asus ROG Matrix RX 5090 |
In the high-stakes world of premium PC hardware, a $4,000 price tag commands near-perfection. For owners of the exceedingly rare ASUS ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 5090, however, a seemingly minor design quirk is causing major headaches and raising questions about quality control at the highest tier.
The issue centers on the card's 16-pin 12VHPWR (or 12V-2x6) power connector. Multiple owners, including a Reddit user who sparked online discussion, report that the connector is noticeably misaligned within the GPU's frame. This offset creates such tight clearance that standard power cables struggle to plug in fully and seat securely.
For a graphics card designed to push an advertised peak power draw of 800W, an improperly seated power connector is no trivial matter. It risks unstable performance, sudden shutdowns, and in worst-case scenarios seen with previous connector issues industry-wide, melted plugs and catastrophic damage.
The Corporate Response: "By Design"
Frustrated owners who contacted ASUS customer support expecting a fix or replacement received a startling response. The company's engineering team reviewed the issue and concluded that "the non-centred positioning of the power connector is part of the original product design," attributing it to overall structural and electrical layout considerations.
This official stance effectively shuts the door on warranty repairs or replacements specifically for the connector alignment. ASUS has positioned the ROG Matrix as its ultimate 30th-anniversary edition GPU, a limited run of just 1,000 units worldwide featuring dual power inputs for extreme overclocking. The company's defense suggests the misalignment is a deliberate, if poorly communicated, trade-off for its ambitious internal design.
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| A closer look at the design flaw that prevents the 12VHPWR connector from having a snug fit on Asus's limited-edition RTX 5090 GPU |
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Owners' Limited Options
The response leaves affected customers in a difficult bind. Their choices are stark:
- Risk It: Attempt to use the card with an imperfect connection, potentially voiding warranties and risking hardware damage that ASUS may dispute.
- Return It: Send the card back within a retailer's return window, a disappointing outcome for those who managed to secure one of the few units.
- Work Around It: ASUS has suggested the card works as intended with a compatible power connector it provides, which may also require one of the company's own "BTF" motherboards designed with rear connectors. This solution forces users deeper into the ASUS ecosystem to solve a problem on a standalone $4,000 component.
This incident isn't the ROG Matrix's first brush with controversy. Earlier in December, ASUS temporarily paused shipments of the card due to unspecified quality concerns, though it later resumed deliveries without a formal recall.
For the community of enthusiasts who invest in such halo products, the episode is a sobering reminder that extreme price and exclusivity don't always guarantee flawless execution. For now, the burden of this "original product design" falls squarely on the users who hoped to own a piece of graphics card history.
Looking for a reliable high-end GPU alternative? You can find the Asus ROG Strix LC series, which utilizes a standard layout, on Amazon here.