Asus is drawing heat after refusing to replace a limited-edition ROG Matrix RTX 5090 graphics card with a visibly misaligned power connector despite the card’s premium $4,000 price tag. The company claims the flaw is “intentional,” leaving buyers in a tough spot: return the GPU entirely or risk unstable performance.
Misaligned 12VHPWR connector sparks performance concerns
A Reddit user, Adrenaline424, recently shared their frustration after unboxing one of only 1,000 ROG Matrix RTX 5090 units worldwide. The problem? The 12V-2×6 (12VHPWR) power connector appears off-center, making it nearly impossible to seat a cable properly. Given the GPU’s 800W peak power potential, that tight fit could be more than inconvenient, it might be dangerous.
The user tested multiple cables, but none could fully connect without flexing or pressure. That kind of poor contact is exactly what led to melted connectors on older RTX 4090 models, which makes this situation harder to ignore.
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Asus defends the design, not the buyer
After contacting Asus support, the response was blunt. Their engineering team reviewed the complaint and responded that the connector’s positioning was deliberate not a defect. In their words, it was “determined based on overall structural and electrical layout considerations.”
That line effectively shut the door on any warranty replacement. Instead, the only option Asus offered was a full return, assuming the buyer was still within the 30-day window.
A frustrating decision for high-end buyers
With the ROG Matrix RTX 5090 marketed as a flagship collector’s item complete with dual power inputs and extreme overclocking potential the expectation for flawless design isn’t unreasonable. A $4,000 GPU with a connector that doesn’t seat properly sounds more like a QC slip than a design breakthrough.
To make matters worse, Asus previously paused GPU shipments in early December due to unspecified quality control issues, though the company denied issuing any recalls.
Here’s the current reality for affected owners:
- Warranty replacements are off the table
- Asus considers the misalignment intentional
- Full refunds are possible but only if returned within 30 days
- Using the included HPWR cable may require a compatible Asus BTF motherboard
When ROG Matrix RTX 5090 “by design” sounds more like a flaw
For now, Adrenaline424 has decided to return their ROG Matrix RTX 5090, unwilling to gamble a high-end rig on a questionable connector. The situation raises a larger issue: when design choices compromise functionality, can they still be called premium?
Asus’s refusal to offer a fix won’t sit well with hardcore builders. After all, a $4,000 graphics card shouldn’t leave you asking if it’s safe to plug in.
