ROG Equalizer, the 'GPU-saving' cable: first case of melting weeks after debut

The ASUS ROG Equalizer cable, introduced a few months ago as an advanced solution to improve the reliability of 12V-2x6 power connectors, has come under scrutiny. Just weeks after hitting the market, a user reportedly experienced melting, just like with standard cables. The difference being that the ROG Equalizer alone costs 50 euros.

An image posted on the Chinese forum Chiphell shows a cable with clear signs of damage on the 16-pin connector. The photo highlights burn marks on at least three of the twelve main pins, while one of them shows particularly marked deterioration, with the surrounding plastic completely melted.

asus rog equalizer (17a)
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The product is easily identifiable thanks to the characteristic purple coloring of the connector and the presence of the ROG brand on the specific wiring management element that also integrates an electric bridge. ASUS introduced the ROG Equalizer as a solution designed to improve power distribution, reduce operational temperatures of the cable, and increase load management capacity compared to traditional connections.

Currently, there is no precise information available regarding the configuration used by the involved user or the model of the graphics card connected. In almost all recent cases, cable melting involves GeForce RTX 5090. However, there have also been reports of Radeon RX 9070 XT Sapphire Nitro+, which has introduced the 12V-2x6 also on the AMD side.

This episode is particularly significant as it comes shortly after some tests conducted by overclocker and content creator Der8auer. His analyses highlighted unexpected behavior of the ASUS cable, with current differences between individual pins reaching up to 4 amperes during use with a GeForce RTX 5080.

In summary, the overclocker and YouTuber pointed out that the load distribution was not as uniform as ASUS had suggested. Consequently, a scenario in which the load exceeds that of a single pin does not seem so unlikely.

The investigations conducted during those tests also identified a possible origin of the phenomenon in the electric bridge integrated under the cable management system. This solution, designed to optimize power delivery, may have introduced additional resistance that influences current distribution among the contacts.

The ROG Equalizer is marketed at a price of about 50 dollars, a high figure for a single cable, justified by the technologies developed to enhance its safety and reliability. The emergence of this first alleged report of a burnt connector could therefore raise serious doubts about the solution proposed by ASUS.

Currently, ASUS has not commented on the incident, probably waiting to investigate the matter and obtain certain information. Meanwhile, the 12-pin connector is a headache practically for all power supply manufacturers who are developing specific solutions in their products. More recently, in fact, Corsair introduced ThermalProtect, Cooler Master the GPU Shield system, and Gigabyte T-Guard, just to name a few.