Cooler Master, a prominent name in the power supply (PSU) market, has been in the spotlight for dangerous advice it gave its users. The company apologized for customer support recommendations that suggested “disconnecting” or “unscrewing” its 16-pin (12V-2×6) right-angle power connectors, which are prone to melting. This dangerous DIY repair method had raised safety concerns.
Major mistake: Cooler Master discontinues production of the problematic 12V-2×6 connector
Following the outcry and reports from the tech press, the company took immediate action. Cooler Master issued instructions to all its regional customer support teams, urging them to immediately stop advising customers to unscrew the power connectors. The company also decided to completely discontinue production of the right-angle 12V-2×6 connector that caused the issue.
Cooler Master also announced new measures for future power supplies. All newly developed Cooler Master power supplies will now come with a straight 12V-2×6 power connector instead of the problematic right-angle plug. The company stated that it has updated its quality control processes, ensuring that the new connectors will work seamlessly with all 12V-2×6 equipped graphics cards, including those with recessed sockets.
The company is adding an additional safety feature to the new connectors. The new cables will feature a dual-color “indicator” that will allow users to see if the cable is properly seated in the socket. According to the statement, the connector ends will be painted purple. This is intended to prevent incomplete installation, which can lead to melting problems.
So, what should owners of Cooler Master power supplies with the problematic right-angle connector do? The company has stated that it will provide these customers with a new straight-ended replacement cable if needed. Cooler Master also stated that it has not received any reports of damage directly related to this dangerous modification process. However, the advice itself was quite dangerous and had the potential to cause serious problems.
Interestingly, the “disassembly” procedure previously recommended by customer support didn’t solve the actual problem. This modification involved removing the connector’s right-angle cap and converting it to a straight plug. However, the cap wasn’t the real cause of the incompatibility. A large plastic tab on the connector itself caused physical incompatibility with some graphics card models.
Cooler Master’s rectification of this error and implementation of new security measures is a significant step, especially considering the sensitivity of 16-pin connectors. Do you think this new purple-tipped indicator design is useful? Do you pay attention to such connector details when building a computer?
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