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This is not at all the same kind of "controversy" as having a component fail catastrophically and catch fire. Comparing it to such is minimising how reckless an

This is not at all the same kind of "controversy" as having a component fail catastrophically and catch fire. Comparing it to such is minimising how reckless and callous nvidia was.

arcticbull 4y ago
GamersNexus paid a bunch of money and had a failure analysis lab go over the Nvidia issue with a fine-tooth comb. I think their conclusion was that the connecters weren't fundamentally problematic - the melting issue overwhelmingly occurred when people didn't actually seat the connector properly. Further, it had to be off by a lot and the cable had to simultaneously be at a significant angle. [1] I don't disagree there could have been a better design, and I think the design is fundamentally a risk when misused. When seated properly there shouldn't be any risk. That said we should ask for better than that from hardware makers. This feels like a job for a warning sticker this generation and something a little different next generation. The Nvidia issue is not like the NZXT H1 riser fire issue, for instance. [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/yx0m1g/gamers_nexus_the_truth_about_nvidias_rtx_4090/ https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/yx0m1g/gamers_nexus...
- kube-system 4y ago
  Adequate and positive retention is part of a good connector design, especially when there are consequences beyond “it disconnects”.
  - arcticbull 4y ago
    To my knowledge it doesn't disconnect. People simply did not connect it. GN is extremely critical and holds manufacturers to a very high standard. GN is the first to lambaste a manufacturer over a design that's even slightly sub-par. If Steve says it's fine, it's almost certainly fine IMO. I'd recommend watching the video. [1] [edit] johnnyguru apparently said the same thing. These are no spring chickens, and Johnny now works at Corsair AFAIK making power supplies. The fix is shorter sense pins that don't indicate to the card the cable is actually plugged in until fully seated. Don't get me wrong it should have been that way from the start, and a warning is needed. That said, it's not an issue when used correctly. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig2px7ofKhQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig2px7ofKhQ
    - kube-system 4y ago
      Yes, the connector works fine when used properly. The issue is that it doesn’t fail gracefully. It might sound nit-picky, but this is a normal standard of engineering design safety.
      - arcticbull 4y ago
        Not nit-picky at all, I think it's a good distinction. Thanks for the clarification.
smolder 4y ago
It's not the same, but also, the 12pin connector melting issue affected well under a single percent of owners, closer to 1 out of thousands. AMDs defective coolers are, making a forgiving estimate based on polls and anecdotal info, affecting well above 1% of the first wave of those cards, and maybe reaching into the double digits.

This is not at all the same kind of "controversy" as having a component fail catastrophically and catch fire. Comparing it to such is minimising how reckless and callous nvidia was.

arcticbull 4y ago

GamersNexus paid a bunch of money and had a failure analysis lab go over the Nvidia issue with a fine-tooth comb. I think their conclusion was that the connecters weren't fundamentally problematic - the melting issue overwhelmingly occurred when people didn't actually seat the connector properly. Further, it had to be off by a lot and the cable had to simultaneously be at a significant angle. [1] I don't disagree there could have been a better design, and I think the design is fundamentally a risk when misused. When seated properly there shouldn't be any risk. That said we should ask for better than that from hardware makers. This feels like a job for a warning sticker this generation and something a little different next generation. The Nvidia issue is not like the NZXT H1 riser fire issue, for instance. [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/yx0m1g/gamers_nexus_the_truth_about_nvidias_rtx_4090/ https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/yx0m1g/gamers_nexus...

kube-system 4y ago
Adequate and positive retention is part of a good connector design, especially when there are consequences beyond “it disconnects”.
- arcticbull 4y ago
  To my knowledge it doesn't disconnect. People simply did not connect it. GN is extremely critical and holds manufacturers to a very high standard. GN is the first to lambaste a manufacturer over a design that's even slightly sub-par. If Steve says it's fine, it's almost certainly fine IMO. I'd recommend watching the video. [1] [edit] johnnyguru apparently said the same thing. These are no spring chickens, and Johnny now works at Corsair AFAIK making power supplies. The fix is shorter sense pins that don't indicate to the card the cable is actually plugged in until fully seated. Don't get me wrong it should have been that way from the start, and a warning is needed. That said, it's not an issue when used correctly. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig2px7ofKhQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig2px7ofKhQ
  - kube-system 4y ago
    Yes, the connector works fine when used properly. The issue is that it doesn’t fail gracefully. It might sound nit-picky, but this is a normal standard of engineering design safety.
    - arcticbull 4y ago
      Not nit-picky at all, I think it's a good distinction. Thanks for the clarification.

smolder 4y ago

It's not the same, but also, the 12pin connector melting issue affected well under a single percent of owners, closer to 1 out of thousands. AMDs defective coolers are, making a forgiving estimate based on polls and anecdotal info, affecting well above 1% of the first wave of those cards, and maybe reaching into the double digits.