Nvidia RTX PRO 6000 user's cables almost melted, even when limited to 500W

A user running two Nvidia RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell workstation GPUs found the braided sleeving on both 12V-2x6 power cables stiff, cracked, frayed, and easy to peel away. The GPUs had been limited to 500 watts each, below their 600-watt maximum, and neither card was damaged. The cable condition points to heat damage rather than ordinary wear, raising concerns that the connectors can overheat even when the cards draw less than their rated maximum.

At 500 watts, the load should be within the cable’s capacity if current is shared evenly. The likely problem is that uneven distribution across connector pins can concentrate current in a few wires; damage to only two pins on each cable is consistent with that explanation. Suggested mitigations include cables that detect overheating, devices that balance current, and custom power-distribution designs, but these add-ons should not be necessary to protect expensive GPUs. The case also renews criticism of the connector design: fewer, relatively small contacts now carry more power than older arrangements using multiple 8-pin plugs. As GPUs demand more electricity, the account argues, the industry needs a safer connector and cable design rather than relying on user modifications.