GPU Tweak III can now detect and shut down a PC when a 12V-2x6 graphics card goes over a certain current limit

ASUS has introduced a new update to its GPU Tweak III overclocking software that allows the application to turn off its host machine if dangerously high current is detected passing through the GPU's 16-pin power connector. The latest version, V.2.1.8.0, introduces this auto shutdown feature for ASUS GPUs that support Power Detector+.

The new update specifically unlocks the ability for GPU Tweak III to shut down the machine if the wires on a 12V-2x6 power connector achieve over 12.5 amps. By default, GPU Tweak III's shutdown functionality is disabled and needs to be turned on in the GPU Tweak III interface for those who want to use it. Uniko's Hardware on X revealed the new options that can be adjusted for the detector, including a pop-up countdown that can appear if the current exceeds 12.5 amps for so many minutes. The user can also adjust the amount of time it takes before shutdown occurs when the power connector runs over the aforementioned amperage limit.

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Power Detector+ is a technology developed by ASUS that allows GPU Tweak III to monitor the current of each pin on graphics cards that support it. Currently, Power Detector+ is ASUS' exclusive and is only available on a handful of high-end RTX GPUs, including ROG Astral and Matrix RTX 5090 and 4090 graphics cards.

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Question #1

Which ASUS GPUs support Power Detector+ and therefore the GPU Tweak III auto shutdown feature?

Power Detector+ is only available on a handful of high-end ASUS RTX cards, specifically ROG Astral and Matrix RTX 5090 and 4090 graphics cards. These are the GPUs that support Power Detector+ and therefore the GPU Tweak III auto shutdown feature.

Answered

Question #2

What current threshold triggers the GPU Tweak III shutdown for a 12V-2x6 (16-pin) connector?

GPU Tweak III will initiate shutdown if the wires on a 12V-2x6 (16-pin) power connector exceed 12.5 amps. This auto shutdown feature is part of GPU Tweak III V.2.1.8.0 and is disabled by default in the interface.

Answered

Question #3

Can I adjust the countdown or delay before GPU Tweak III shuts down the PC after detecting high current?

Click to reveal answer

Question #4

Will enabling GPU Tweak III auto shutdown protect my card if using third-party 16-pin cables like the Equalizer cable?

Yes. The article says GPU Tweak III V.2.1.8.0 can shut down the PC when it detects wires on a 12V-2x6 (16-pin) power connector exceeding 12.5 amps, which should help decrease the risk of GPU damage when a connector starts overheating. This feature only works on ASUS GPUs that support Power Detector+ and is disabled by default, so you must enable and configure the shutdown thresholds and timing in the GPU Tweak III interface.

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Having GPU Tweak III detect abnormally high electrical current should help decrease the risk of GPU damage when a 12V-2x6 power connector starts overheating, especially if the user is unaware of the problem while using the card for gaming or other GPU-intensive workloads. This solution could also help decrease the amount of GPU deaths occurring from reportedly safe cables, including ASUS' own Equalizer cable that was designed to help prevent 12V-2x6 connector failures, but ended up performing worse than a regular 16-pin cable. Worse, the cable has already melted for at least a handful of 16-pin graphics card owners. Only time will tell, as users get their hands on this new update, if this update fully prevents 16-pin damage from occurring.