A Reddit user recently documented a troubling incident involving the BeQuiet Dark Power 13 1000W power supply, where a 16-pin connector had completely melted. 

This occurrence is reminiscent of the melting issues experienced by some RTX 4090 graphics cards and brings to light potential reliability concerns regarding the new connector.

Although instances of melting 16-pin connectors are not uncommon, especially in power-demanding graphics cards like the RTX 4090, discovering a melted connector on the power supply side is highly unusual. It is important to note that no adapters were used in this case, as the Dark Power 13 is designed to directly support 16-pin cables. The accompanying images clearly demonstrate the complete destruction of the bottom row of pins on the connector, located next to the four 'sense' pins, while the upper row of pins remains undamaged. Likewise, the 16-pin power connector within the power supply unit (PSU) also exhibits similar damage, with melted plastic observed along the bottom row of ports. However, it is crucial to approach this incident with caution, as it represents a single case of a 16-pin power connector malfunctioning on the power supply end. Without additional reports, it is challenging to determine the scope of this issue or whether it is an isolated occurrence.

Nevertheless, this incident is reminiscent of the reports documenting RTX 4090 melting issues that have emerged over the past year. While those reports primarily focused on damage occurring on the GPU end rather than the power supply end, it is technically possible for the same type of damage to affect both ends, given that the GPU and power supply connectors are identical. If this report proves to be genuine, it could potentially indicate a new wave of 16-pin connector problems as more users adopt Gen 3 power supplies.

The timing of this issue is particularly unfortunate, as additional reports of 16-pin connector melting with RTX 4090 graphics cards continue to emerge. Nvidia asserts that all such issues are the result of user error, specifically improper seating of the connector. 

Update: we reached out to be quiet and here is their reaction:

This is a unique case and we already have reached out to the customer to learn more on this issue. As our brand is known for highest quality standards, we treat this seriously and have initiated an investigation. Thanks for highlighting this to us, we really appreciate media and customers contacting us directly to discuss any potential questions, because customer satisfaction is key for us.

Potential Melting Issue with BeQuiet Dark Power 13 Power Supply and RTX 4090 16-Pin Connectors