Is my ASUS Astral 5090 Safe? Red Light blinking while gaming

[BearForce1x]

Hello, I recently purchased an Asus Astral 5090 and have encountered a phenomenon I've never experienced with a GPU before. I was playing Star Wars Outlaws last night with everything slammed, meaning 4K, ultra settings, 120fps, RTX Direct Lighting, raytracing, etc. (which the card does with no problem with DLSS/MFG). While playing, there is a small red light by the power connector on the card and it starts flashing red and does not stop until you close the game.

I then open GPU Tweak which is a software that ASUS provides to monitor the pins on the card and there are 6 available in the app and the last 3 are red with a warning sign. The card doesn't throttle, and you can continue to play as normal and the PC doesn't shut down as a kernel panic or anything and I'm wondering, is this card supposed to do this? Or should I return it?

My PSU is a RMX1000 Corsair, and I purchased the Gen5 12VHPWR cable from Corsair which has two PCIe cables that go into the PSU and the 12VHPWR cable that goes into the GPU. The processor is a 13900K.

 

[qxp]

I think the diagram indicates that you have too many control rods raised. Lower some to avoid a meltdown.

 

[Solaris17]

Have you tried reseating it? Or reading the software to indicate what it means? The manual perhaps? I would start with a reseat of the connector.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Have you tried reseating it? Or reading the software to indicate what it means? The manual perhaps? I would start with a reseat of the connector.

This!

Hello, I recently purchased an Asus Astral 5090 and have encountered a phenomenon I've never experienced with a GPU before. I was playing Star Wars Outlaws last night with everything slammed, meaning 4K, ultra settings, 120fps, RTX Direct Lighting, raytracing, etc. (which the card does with no problem with DLSS/MFG). While playing, there is a small red light by the power connector on the card and it starts flashing red and does not stop until you close the game.

I then open GPU Tweak which is a software that ASUS provides to monitor the pins on the card and there are 6 available in the app and the last 3 are red with a warning sign. The card doesn't throttle, and you can continue to play as normal and the PC doesn't shut down as a kernel panic or anything and I'm wondering, is this card supposed to do this? Or should I return it?

My PSU is a RMX1000 Corsair, and I purchased the Gen5 12VHPWR cable from Corsair which has two PCIe cables that go into the PSU and the 12VHPWR cable that goes into the GPU. The processor is a 13900K.

As Solaris mentioned above, the first thing you should do is shut your system off. Unplug the card and it's power cables from the card and the PSU and then plug them all back in, making sure that they are snug and fit properly. It is possible that one of the connectors are not properly seated in the adjoining socket and need correction. This is not uncommon and you just need to unplug and reseat.

BTW, Welcome to TPU!

 

[evernessince]

Hello, I recently purchased an Asus Astral 5090 and have encountered a phenomenon I've never experienced with a GPU before. I was playing Star Wars Outlaws last night with everything slammed, meaning 4K, ultra settings, 120fps, RTX Direct Lighting, raytracing, etc. (which the card does with no problem with DLSS/MFG). While playing, there is a small red light by the power connector on the card and it starts flashing red and does not stop until you close the game.

I then open GPU Tweak which is a software that ASUS provides to monitor the pins on the card and there are 6 available in the app and the last 3 are red with a warning sign. The card doesn't throttle, and you can continue to play as normal and the PC doesn't shut down as a kernel panic or anything and I'm wondering, is this card supposed to do this? Or should I return it?

My PSU is a RMX1000 Corsair, and I purchased the Gen5 12VHPWR cable from Corsair which has two PCIe cables that go into the PSU and the 12VHPWR cable that goes into the GPU. The processor is a 13900K.

The card is only capable of warning you of issues, it cannot do anything about them. Nvidia requires AIBs to follow it's specifications for much of the power delivery system, and unfortunately that includes a lack of current balancing between the pins. Those red lights indicate that current is out of specification and you should immediately reseat the connector. Failing to do so can lead to catastrophic failure. Be glad you have one of the few cards that actually alerts you to this because for everyone else it'd go unnoticed and likely damage the card.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Might also be worth checking the condition of your power cable and connectors, on both ends.

Looking in the upper right in the first picture, it suggests that part of power connector is either drawing too much current, has a thermal issue, or both. The red light goes off with the game because the load has been removed from the power connector.

 

[Hugis]

First of all welcome to Techpowerup!

If you could fill in your system specs in you account details that would be great.
Looks like you have a pretty awesome rig as well, lets hope our community help you resolve your issue.

 

[Chomiq]

Unplug and inspect the pins on the GPU end and PSU end. Also, I don't like that bend on the cable. If the three pins match the side on the left of the connector from the pic you've posted it could mean that it's bent too tight and there's an issue with seating. See if you can route the cable from the basement of the case up to the GPU.

 

[StViolenceDay]

As far as I remember there should be some more detailed info in the Asus software near the "12VHPWR" with asterisk. Maybe on tooltip or on click. It should show numerically how bad the imbalance is. Maybe useful to know

 

[Aken Bosch]

well, from ROG forums:

ROG RTX 3000 / 4000 / 5000 Series Power LED Behaviour

ROG has recently changed the Power LED behaviour on its GPUs. On older generations of GPU, a white light would always indicate standard operation in all power states. The behaviour has since changed so that the GPU can be better incorporated with the rest of the system's Aura Sync lighting...

rog-forum.asus.com

Good luck!

P.S 12HPWR instead of 12V-2x6 is reaaaaaaally a bad idea with any 5090, use the included adapter if possible.

 

[AVATARAT]

Hello, I recently purchased an Asus Astral 5090 and have encountered a phenomenon I've never experienced with a GPU before. I was playing Star Wars Outlaws last night with everything slammed, meaning 4K, ultra settings, 120fps, RTX Direct Lighting, raytracing, etc. (which the card does with no problem with DLSS/MFG). While playing, there is a small red light by the power connector on the card and it starts flashing red and does not stop until you close the game.

I then open GPU Tweak which is a software that ASUS provides to monitor the pins on the card and there are 6 available in the app and the last 3 are red with a warning sign. The card doesn't throttle, and you can continue to play as normal and the PC doesn't shut down as a kernel panic or anything and I'm wondering, is this card supposed to do this? Or should I return it?

My PSU is a RMX1000 Corsair, and I purchased the Gen5 12VHPWR cable from Corsair which has two PCIe cables that go into the PSU and the 12VHPWR cable that goes into the GPU. The processor is a 13900K.

Remove the side panel (glass), unplug/plug the power connector from the card, turn on the computer and check the software for 12VHPWR if the red dots are still there.
If all is well, turn off the computer, close the side panel and check again for red dots, if they reappear, then your side panel is too close, pinching the cable.

 

[W1zzard]

and there are 6 available in the app and the last 3 are red with a warning sign

This warns about too much current going over those pins, suggesting a bad power cable or connection. But I wonder how much it actually is. I vaguely remember that there's also a way to show the actual current in Amps over those pins. try clicking around.

 

[Chomiq]

Big risk for $3k+ GPU.

Also, this is there for a reason:

And it's:

 

[LittleBro]

Hwinfo shows reports from per-pin current sensing on ROG Astral cards. Post screenshot here after session of gaming.

 

[Vayra86]

View attachment 397337

View attachment 397338

Big risk for $3k+ GPU.

Also, this is there for a reason:
View attachment 397339
And it's:
View attachment 397340

Great info but I still can't get to grips with the utter ridiculousness of all this Hilarious, how clearly this connector is a complete POS

Imagine having to monitor your fucking cable on a 3k graphics card, I'd have a very hard time not feeling like someone took the piss. I'd want my money back no questions asked.

 

[Aken Bosch]

Great info but I still can't get to grips with the utter ridiculousness of all this Hilarious, how clearly this connector is a complete POS

Imagine having to monitor your fucking cable on a 3k graphics card, I'd have a very hard time not feeling like someone took the piss. I'd want my money back no questions asked.

Well, at least this model is mumbling something about it... ))

 

[Vayra86]

Well, at least this model is mumbling something about it... ))

Yeah... so now you're always watching that shit. Fantastic, being continuously reminded you've got a 3k potential brick coming up.

 

[Chomiq]

Great info but I still can't get to grips with the utter ridiculousness of all this Hilarious, how clearly this connector is a complete POS

Imagine having to monitor your fucking cable on a 3k graphics card, I'd have a very hard time not feeling like someone took the piss. I'd want my money back no questions asked.

It is, but I'd suspect that if you're willing to spend that much money you'd at least make sure to build it in a way that follows all the guidelines. Seeing how there's no 8-pin variant of 5090 you either accept the risks that come from 12VHPWR or you don't buy it at all.

 

[TSiAhmat]

It is, but I'd suspect that if you're willing to spend that much money you'd at least make sure to build it in a way that follows all the guidelines. Seeing how there's no 8-pin variant of 5090 you either accept the risks that come from 12VHPWR or you don't buy it at all.

Technically (what I at least heard about it) the Asus Version were it controls/checks the amps for every wire is against the guidelines/standard of an 12VHPWR.

Edit: It also doesn't allow for a design with an fuse (at least for one that makes sense) so if it blows, the card basically transforms into a paperweight. (atleast the Astral one is a damn heavy one, but might I suggest tungsten if you wanted one, it's quite pricey BUT VERY HEAVY)

 

[lepudruk]

I then open GPU Tweak which is a software that ASUS provides to monitor the pins on the card and there are 6 available in the app and the last 3 are red with a warning sign.

Which release of GPU Tweak you have? There should be a diagram with per-pin amperage visible (top-right corner):

 

[BoggledBeagle]

My PSU is a RMX1000 Corsair, and I purchased the Gen5 12VHPWR cable from Corsair which has two PCIe cables that go into the PSU and the 12VHPWR cable that goes into the GPU. The processor is a 13900K.

Could you please provide detailed photo of the cable plug (GPU side) where all metal connector tubes are clearly visible, as in the photo, which you see here:

12 pin GPU connector survey

I have a suspition, that not all cables and connectors are made with the care they deserve and there are some substandard and even dangerous cables out there. Some cables might have been damaged by users too. This survey should help to identify them. Post your photos of 12 pin GPU connectors...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[lepudruk]

BTW, having such "problematic" GPU I would consider one of the Asrock new PSUs: with TempGuard and NTC termal sensor. They're supposed to cut the power off when temps hit the limit.

 

[Han44]

Use this plug for 5xxx generation

https://imgur.com/a/8hZPiJn

, the next one for 6xxx generation will be liquid cooled

 

[Degreco]

Use this plug for 5xxx generation

https://imgur.com/a/8hZPiJn

, the next one for 6xxx generation will be liquid cooled

Ironically, that's not far from the truth for some 5090 users :

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Great info but I still can't get to grips with the utter ridiculousness of all this Hilarious, how clearly this connector is a complete POS

Imagine having to monitor your fucking cable on a 3k graphics card, I'd have a very hard time not feeling like someone took the piss. I'd want my money back no questions asked.

Yeah, it’s the first time I can recall such a touchy electrical connection in the PC space. Up to now, it’s been pretty fool-proof, even with suspect aftermarket parts. This connector seems to be loaded with “watch out for this” and “don’t do that” and even “you can’t use that kind of cable!” There are even things built in to some cards to monitor the connection. Madness. It shouldn’t be so nerve wracking.