Thermal Grizzly has released an updated power monitoring module for WireView Pro video cards equipped with a 12+4-pin power connector. It was developed by overclocker Jon “Elmor” Sandström. The device monitors the level of power consumption of the video card and the temperature of the power connector, and also informs the user about potential problems.
Image Source: Thermal Grizzly
As previously reported, the powerful flagship GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards may be susceptible to the problem of potential power connector melting due to high load. One of the reasons for this is incorrect connection of the power cable connector to the video card power connector. Due to the nature of the connector itself, correct or incorrect connection was not so obvious to the user. Since then, power supply and graphics card manufacturers have released improved connectors and cables that only transfer all the necessary power to the graphics card when everything is connected correctly.
The power consumption of the upcoming next-generation GeForce RTX 5090 is expected to be even greater than that of the current flagship RTX 4090 model. And the presence of a tool like WireView Pro is designed to help prevent potential problems with reliable power, or at least minimize their likelihood. The updated WireView Pro monitoring module has a built-in sound module that will warn the user with a loud squeak if the power cable is incorrectly connected to the video card.
WireView Pro has the following features:
- Monitors the power consumption of the video card in real time and also writes to the log every 60 seconds;
- Using built-in sensors, measures the temperature of power connectors;
- Reads temperature from external sensors;
- Determines the correct connection of each connector pin.
Thermal Grizzly warns that WireView Pro can get very hot when running, no matter what graphics card it’s used with. If the video card is equipped with an air cooling system, the device will be cooled using it. And still, the temperature of the module in this case can reach 60 degrees Celsius. However, if the card is equipped with a water block, which does not create additional air flow to the power connector, the temperature of the WireView Pro module can reach 100 degrees. In other words, the manufacturer warns not to touch WireView Pro during operation. Thermal Grizzly does not specify whether these temperature measurements were made on video cards with a TDP of 450 W or higher.
Before purchasing WireView Pro, you also need to check the direction of the power connector on the video card itself. Some accelerator models are equipped with reverse connectors, which means that for them you will need to select the WireView Pro Reverse (R) model instead of the Normal (N) model.
The WireView Pro monitoring device is available for purchase through the Thermal Grizzly official website. Its cost is €70 or $76. It should be taken into account that it is best to use the device with a horizontally installed video card due to the particular location of the display built into the module.