Overclocker Blames NVIDIA Connector Dispute for EVGA's Final Flagship Card

Key points

• Vince 'KINGPIN' Lucido stated that a disagreement with NVIDIA over the number of 12VHPWR power connectors delayed the production of the EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti KINGPIN.
• Lucido wanted the card to feature two 12VHPWR connectors, but NVIDIA insisted on limiting it to just one, which he claims 'really screwed up the production timeline' and reduced the total units manufactured.
• The card eventually launched with two 16-pin connectors for $2,500, including a 1600 W power supply, approximately three months after the standard RTX 3090 Ti release.
• This was the last graphics card to carry the KINGPIN name, as EVGA ended its partnership with NVIDIA and stopped making GPUs in September 2022.
• Lucido is now working with ASUS, though no ASUS-made KINGPIN card has been confirmed, and he skipped the RTX 50 generation entirely after a failed plan with PNY.

Background

This dispute highlights the long-standing tensions between EVGA and NVIDIA, which ultimately led to EVGA exiting the GPU market in 2022. The issue of power connectors remains a significant concern in the current market, as recent reports indicate that NVIDIA's 12VHPWR connectors have melted in high-end RTX 5090 cards under heavy load, such as during DLSS 5 testing. Additionally, NVIDIA is reportedly halting RTX 5090 production to prioritize AI workstation cards, further complicating the supply and demand landscape for high-end GPUs.

Why it matters

The dispute underscores the critical role of power delivery in high-end GPU design and the potential for disagreements between manufacturers and chipmakers to impact product availability and performance. It also highlights the ongoing challenges with 12VHPWR connectors, which have been linked to melting issues in recent RTX 5090 cards, raising concerns about safety and reliability in high-power GPUs.

What to watch

Lucido is currently working with ASUS, but no ASUS-made KINGPIN card has been confirmed. He has set a condition for any future collaboration, requiring the PCB and power delivery to allow the GPU to reach its full potential under liquid nitrogen without buyer modifications. The broader GPU market remains volatile, with NVIDIA halting RTX 5090 production and prices surging due to AI demand and supply constraints.