Overclocker Blames NVIDIA Connector Mandate for Delaying EVGA's Final Flagship GPU

Key points

• Lucido stated NVIDIA forced a single 12VHPWR connector on the RTX 3090 Ti KINGPIN, delaying production and limiting units made.
• The card launched three months after the standard RTX 3090 Ti at $2,500, including a 1600W PSU, with dual connectors as Lucido originally requested.
• This was the final flagship GPU from EVGA before the company ended its partnership with NVIDIA in September 2022.
• Lucido is now working with ASUS, which sent hardware for testing, but no ASUS-made KINGPIN card has been confirmed.
• Lucido set a condition for any future collaboration: the PCB and power delivery must allow the GPU to reach full potential under liquid nitrogen without buyer modifications.

Background

EVGA ended its GPU business in 2022 after a deteriorating relationship with NVIDIA, including pricing pressures and competition from NVIDIA's Founders Edition cards. The RTX 3090 Ti launched at $1,999, while the KINGPIN variant was priced at $2,500. Lucido had previously attempted a collaboration with PNY that never produced a card, and he skipped the RTX 50 generation entirely. Recent incidents involving melted 12V-2x6 connectors on RTX 5090 cards during DLSS 5 testing have heightened scrutiny of NVIDIA's power delivery design choices.

How outlets are covering it

Wccftech and TechPowerUp both report Lucido's claims but differ in emphasis. Wccftech frames the connector dispute as a direct cause of production delays and limited units, quoting Lucido's frustration about spending over $5,000 on a card. TechPowerUp notes that this is only Lucido's side of the story and that NVIDIA's reasoning for the single connector is unclear. TechPowerUp also highlights the broader context of EVGA's 2022 exit and Lucido's new ASUS partnership, while Wccftech focuses more on the technical dispute and Lucido's condition for future collaborations. Neither source provides NVIDIA's official response to the connector mandate.

Why it matters

The incident underscores ongoing tensions between NVIDIA and board partners over power delivery design, particularly for high-end GPUs. Lucido's account adds to a pattern of connector-related issues, including recent melted 12V-2x6 connectors on RTX 5090 cards during DLSS 5 testing. It also highlights the fragility of partnerships in the GPU market, as EVGA's exit in 2022 was partly attributed to NVIDIA's pricing and competitive strategies. Lucido's new ASUS collaboration may signal a shift in how overclockers and enthusiasts engage with hardware manufacturers, though no concrete product has been announced.

What to watch

Lucido's collaboration with ASUS may lead to future KINGPIN-branded hardware, but no specific product has been confirmed. The condition he set for any future card—full liquid nitrogen performance without buyer modifications—will likely influence design discussions. The broader industry may see continued scrutiny of NVIDIA's power connector standards, especially as DLSS 5 and other features push power draw higher. EVGA's exit in 2022 remains a reference point for how board partners navigate NVIDIA's market dominance.