MSI Preparing Yellow-Tipped Power Cables for GeForce RTX 50 Series Graphics Cards

MSI is getting ready to include new yellow-tipped 16-pin power adapters with some of their upcoming GeForce RTX 50 series “Blackwell” graphics cards. While MSI has not officially announced this change, photos of these adapters have appeared on their website, giving us a glimpse of what’s coming.

The yellow tips on these cables serve as a visual guide to help users connect them properly. When the yellow tip is no longer visible, it means the cable is fully plugged in. This design is meant to make connecting the cables easier and safer.

Adapter Types for Different Models

According to the photos, the adapters will vary depending on the model:

• RTX 5070: These will likely come with dual 8-pin to single 16-pin adapters.
• RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080: These models will include adapters with three 8-pin ends.
• RTX 5090: The flagship card seems to require a much larger and more complex 4-way splitter for power.

Safety Features Inspired by Past Issues

This is not the first time MSI has focused on improving power connectors. Back in 2023, MSI introduced the MAG GL PSU series with a similar design. At that time, they added dual-color tips to address problems reported by customers, such as power supply connectors burning or getting loose. MSI explained that these issues were caused by cables not being plugged in all the way or the pins not staying in place. The new cable design helped fix these problems by making it clear when a connector was securely attached.

Why Stick with the Old Connector?

Although a newer power connector standard, called 12V-2×6, has been available for years, NVIDIA and its partners are still using the older 12VHPWR connector for the RTX 50 series. This connector has been called “problematic” by some because of past issues, but companies like MSI and ZOTAC are taking steps to improve safety.

At CES 2025, ZOTAC showcased a new “Safety Light” feature on their power cables, which warns users if a cable isn’t connected properly. MSI’s yellow-tipped adapters seem to serve a similar purpose, ensuring users can avoid common connection problems.

MSI‘s focus on safety and ease of use shows their commitment to solving past issues and improving the experience for gamers and PC builders. While we wait for an official announcement, it’s clear that MSI is aiming to make the new RTX 50 series easier and safer to use.