Does ASUS's GPU-saving cable really work? They dissected it and results weren't great

The famous YouTuber and overclocker der8auer published a video analyzing the new ASUS ROG Equalizer cable, a solution that promises to avert any issues with the infamous 12V-2x6 connector. Unfortunately, the analysis showed results quite different from what ASUS promised.

The connector has been at the center of controversy for years. First adopted by the GeForce RTX 4000 series and then appearing on the GeForce RTX 5000 and some custom models of AMD Radeon RX 9000, it has caused a significant increase in failures. Recently, ASUS presented a new cable, the aforementioned ROG Equalizer, which according to the company improves power distribution and increases the load capacity per wire from 9.2A to 17A.

It is precisely on the integrated bridge designed by ASUS that der8auer focused his analysis. Unfortunately, the test results indicate a different scenario. In practice, the cable showed a variation of about 4A between the most stressed cables and the least used ones, with values ranging from about 10A to 6A. After removing the internal bridge, paradoxically, the difference dropped to about 1.5A, with loads distributed more evenly between 7.5A and just under 9A.

In essence, the removal of the component designed by ASUS to balance the current resulted in a better balance, raising serious questions about the actual effectiveness of their proprietary design.

The analysis then shifted to the contacts of the connector. ASUS uses gold-plated pins on its Equalizer, while a large part of the 12V-2x6 GPU connectors still adopts tinned surfaces. Through SEM and EDX analysis, der8auer identified residues of tin on the gold contact area, highlighting a combination of materials that introduces further variables on electrical and thermal levels.

Another interesting aspect concerns the actual contact surface: it was found to be very small compared to the overall width of the spring, with an actual diameter between 0.2 and 0.4 mm. In the case of the ROG Equalizer, ASUS employed a four-spring design, against the more common three-contact point scheme, with a width 23% greater. Der8auer confirmed slightly larger dimensions but did not find sufficient elements to demonstrate a performance leap.

The final picture does not define the ASUS cable as dangerous but rather makes the company’s commercial statements controversial. The stated specifications regarding load capacity and reduction of current variations do not find real confirmations in this test, especially considering that a simple removal of the bridge improved one of the key parameters.

In summary, all we can currently suggest is to be cautious when purchasing seemingly premium accessories. At present, compared to a traditional cable, the difference seems negligible, so the requested 50 euros may not be a good investment.