RTX 4090 16‑Pin Power Connector Catches Fire During Live Marvel Rivals Stream
Date: January 31, 2026
Source: Tom's Hardware (article by Tom's Hardware staff)
A dramatic hardware failure was captured live on Twitch when streamer jessick was playing Marvel Rivals. While the RTX 4090 was under the combined load of gaming and streaming, its 16‑pin power connector began to melt, emitting thick smoke and eventually igniting a small fire.
The incident unfolded as follows:
- The GPU was delivering power to the card when a wire in the 16‑pin connector visibly softened and started to melt.
- Smoke poured from the connector, and a brief flare appeared on the GPU’s PCB.
- Despite the obvious danger, the streamer continued the broadcast for a short time before finally powering down the system.
- The entire sequence was recorded by the streamer’s webcam and later uploaded to the internet, where it quickly went viral.
This footage highlights several key safety concerns for high‑performance graphics cards:
- Power delivery stress: The RTX 4090’s massive power draw can push its VRM and connector components to their limits, especially when the card is simultaneously handling gaming and streaming workloads.
- Cooling adequacy: Proper airflow and a robust cooling solution are essential to keep temperatures in check during prolonged, intensive sessions.
- Immediate shutdown procedures: When any abnormal heat, smoke, or component deformation is observed, the system should be powered off immediately to prevent escalation.
The incident has sparked renewed discussion in the enthusiast community about the reliability of top‑tier GPUs under extreme load and the importance of monitoring temperatures and power delivery health in real time.
For the full original report, see Tom's Hardware:
