12VHPWR Watchdog Protects You From Nvidia Fires

Once again, Nvidia has left fans feeling frustrated with its 12VHPWR connector, and for good reason. The new 5080 and 500 GPUs have been plagued by overheating issues, which can lead to catastrophic failures. But what if you're stuck with a newly-built 5080 and want to play the latest games or run large language models locally? Fear not, for Timo Birnschein has a simple and effective solution to protect your hardware from Nvidia's latest mishap.

A Simple Watchdog Solution

Birnschein's solution is built around an Arduino microcontroller, three resistors, and three thermistors. Yes, you read that right - just three simple components can help keep your PC safe from Nvidia's problematic 12VHPWR connector.

How it Works

The thermistors are placed on the connector's hotspots, which are prone to overheating. When a temperature anomaly is detected, such as one of the thermistors approaching 100C, the Arduino will shut down your PC to prevent any further damage.

Companion Software and Features

The companion software, available on GitHub, includes a range of features that make this watchdog solution even more useful. These include:

• A tray icon for easy monitoring of temperature and stability
• Temperature graphing to help you identify potential issues before they become major problems

The Best Part? It's Open-Source

The entire project is open-source, which means that anyone can build and modify the watchdog solution. You can even add more thermistors to the mix if you'd like!

A Hack That Goes Beyond Nvidia's Latest Creation

This hack doesn't just protect you from Nvidia's latest creation - it can help watch over any potentially hot mod, such as a 3D printer. And with its simplicity and ease of use, anyone can build one of these watchdog solutions.

A Lesson to Nvidia?

Despite the many problems that have plagued Nvidia's 12VHPWR connector in the past, it seems like the company is yet to learn from its mistakes. The 5080 and 500 GPUs are still prone to overheating issues, which can lead to catastrophic failures.

A Solution for the Future

However, with projects like Birnschein's watchdog solution available, fans have a way to protect themselves from these potential problems. And who knows? Maybe this is the start of something bigger - a community-driven effort to create a safer and more reliable PC hardware ecosystem.