What to Do When Your PCIE Cable Melts: Seeking Guidance

Today, I encountered a concerning issue with my computer. While using my 4060 TI GPU, I suddenly noticed a burnt plastic smell permeating the air. Initially, I thought it might have been my room fan causing the odor. However, even after turning off the fan, the smell persisted. This prompted me to shut down my PC altogether, and that’s when I discovered a rather alarming sight: the plastic around one of the cable pins had begun to melt.

After making this unsettling discovery, I quickly ordered a replacement cable to resolve the issue. However, I can’t shake off the fear that my GPU may have suffered damage during this incident. Interestingly, before I turned off my computer, everything seemed to be functioning perfectly; there were no signs of instability, graphical artifacts, or unexpected shutdowns.

Now, I’m at a crossroads. Is it safe to simply replace the damaged cable, or might I be prolonging a potential issue? Given that I didn’t see any malfunction before discovering the melted connector, I hope the graphics card remains unscathed. My primary concern is that replacing the cable could somehow lead to further complications, particularly due to the melted plastic debris.

As I cannot afford to replace the PSU or send the GPU for repairs at this moment, I’m reaching out to anyone with expertise in electronics or computer repair. Your insights on how to proceed safely would be incredibly beneficial. Should I risk powering up my system after replacing the cable, or are there precautions I should take to ensure everything operates smoothly? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!