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MSI 5090 adapter looks… welded to the card (melted?)
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MSI 5090 adapter looks… welded to the card (melted?)

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Specs:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
  • GPU: MSI RTX 5090 Gaming Trio OC
  • Motherboard: MSI X870 Tomahawk
  • PSU: Seasonic TX-1600 (Noctua edition)
  • Cable: MSI stock 4× PCIe 8-pin → 16-pin (12V-2×6) adapter from the GPU box

I’ve already had one power issue with this card:

  • Originally, I was using a stock Seasonic 12V-2×6 cable that was giving me black screens under load.
  • Switched over to the MSI stock 4× PCIe adapter from the box and that seemed to fix it at the time.

Yesterday things got weird again:

  • Windows suddenly stopped detecting the GPU – nothing in Device Manager.
  • Monitor wouldn’t wake when plugged into the 5090. I can only use onboard AMD one.
  • I assumed it was a seating issue, so I powered off, opened the case, and tried to unplug the cable.

Then.

  • The 16-pin adapter will not come out of the GPU at all.
  • It is fully seated – latch engaged, no obvious misalignment.
  • On top of the connector, I can see two distinct burn marks on the plastic.
  • On the GPU side of the socket, on the shroud/edge next to the slot, there’s a linear burn mark that lines up perfectly with the plug.
  • It genuinely looks like the plug and socket have heat-welded together. No amount of reasonable pressure + latch pressing will move it, and I don’t want to rip the socket off the PCB.

I’ve shut everything down, PSU is off and unplugged, but that is about it. Trying to survive this mental damage 5090 gave me this year (first one RMA'd due to artifact, this is a replacement)

Questions:

  1. For MSI owners who went through RMA for this kind of issue, did you ship the card with the adapter still stuck in it, or did support demand you pull it out first?
  2. Should I also loop in Seasonic, or is this basically “GPU + adapter RMA” territory?

Right now, my plan is to open an MSI ticket with these photos and ask if I can send the card in as-is. I am not sure if I should return Seasonic or not. Also, wanted to document this here in case others are seeing the same thing on 50-series, and to hear what MSI did for you if you’ve been through this.