8 hours ago
New 3000W Asus PSU Handles 4 RTX 5090s in a Single PC
If you paid any attention to the launch of Nvidia's flagship GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, you know that some PSU connectors weren't up to handling the GPU's 575W power draw. Third-party cables were to blame for some of the melting incidents, but even cables and connectors from big names sometimes couldn't take the heat. But Asus thinks its new PSU is up to the task—and not just for one GPU. The Asus Pro WS Platinum power supply is meant to handle four RTX 5090s (or RTX Pro 6000s) simultaneously.
Asus has a plan for preventing a very expensive meltdown: heavy-duty cables and connectors with gold-plated copper pins. The pins should make for lower connector temps by as much as 10°C (compared with standard connectors), according to Asus. The company also says that Pro WS Platinum's connectors have better socket pin contact for a more efficient draw.
Credit: Asus
As VideoCardz notes, Asus took care to help users connect the cables properly. The PCIe power cables for the graphics cards have purple connectors, while the CPU power cables have gray connectors. The cables are etched for better flexibility and—so long as you route them reasonably—can keep temperatures as low as 50°C under the max temp limit.
The Pro WS Platinum is meant for professional workstations with heavy AI workloads rather than gaming PCs. It's available in three models: 1600W, which supports up to two RTX 5090s; 2200W, which supports up to four RTX 5080s; and a 3000W beast that runs up to four RTX 5090s. Asus says it beefed up the cooling for these PSUs with extruded aluminum heatsinks and fans that have dual-ball fan bearings.
Other life-extending features include a moisture-resistant coating for the PCB and high-end capacitors. All three models are 80 Plus Platinum certified. And the PSU is just 6.89 inches long (again, for all three models), so it should fit comfortably in many workstation cases.
Credit: Asus
The RTX 50 series GPUs aren't the first to have the occasional cable/connector meltdown, but they have been dramatic. User error might be responsible for at least some of the melting issues, so MSI used special, yellow connectors for the GPU cables. The upgraded design was meant to help customers insert the cables correctly—and not to draw full power until they're firmly plugged in. The connector seems to have helped, though not entirely.
