MSI unveils GPU Safeguard+: PSU-side protection for 12VHPWR and 12V-2×6 connectors

MSI has unveiled GPU Safeguard+, a new layer of protection for graphics cards that will roll out across select MPG-series power supplies. The feature targets modern GPUs with 12VHPWR and 12V-2×6 connectors and is designed to prevent overheating and damage to cables and plugs—issues that have repeatedly surfaced in recent years. The timing feels like a pragmatic answer to those recurring reports.

Working from the PSU side, GPU Safeguard+ tracks current in real time across all six 12V-2×6 power lines. It looks for load imbalances and sudden spikes that can point to a loose or poorly seated connector or to an unsafe operating condition. In PSU models with two 12V-2×6 outputs, the system monitors both connectors at once.

When an anomaly is detected, the power supply first switches to a warning mode. An audible alert sounds, and MSI Center pops up a window with connector status. Users have about three minutes to reduce the load or fix the connection. If nothing changes, the protection kicks in: the screen goes dark and the alarm keeps sounding, signaling that it’s time to power down the PC and recheck the cabling. That brief grace period comes across as a measured step, giving room to act without an abrupt cutoff.

Control and monitoring are integrated into MSI Center, which shows real-time telemetry, power consumption history, PSU and fan status, and event logs. MSI underscores that it is prioritizing PSU-side hardware–software oversight rather than fixes tied to specific GPU models—a direction that reads as more broadly applicable.

At launch, GPU Safeguard+ is slated for the MPG Ai1600TS PCIE5 and MPG Ai1300TS PCIE5 power supplies. The company also notes compatibility with cards that use dual 12V-2×6 connectors, including the GeForce RTX 5090 LIGHTNING.