Thursday, July 16th 2020
The Curious Case of the 12-pin Power Connector: It's Real and Coming with NVIDIA Ampere GPUs
Over the past few days, we've heard chatter about a new 12-pin PCIe power connector for graphics cards being introduced, particularly from Chinese language publication FCPowerUp, including a picture of the connector itself. Igor's Lab also did an in-depth technical breakdown of the connector. TechPowerUp has some new information on this from a well placed industry source. The connector is real, and will be introduced with NVIDIA's next-generation "Ampere" graphics cards. The connector appears to be NVIDIA's brain-child, and not that of any other IP- or trading group, such as the PCI-SIG, Molex or Intel. The connector was designed in response to two market realities - that high-end graphics cards inevitably need two power connectors; and it would be neater for consumers to have a single cable than having to wrestle with two; and that lower-end (<225 W) graphics cards can make do with one 8-pin or 6-pin connector.
The new NVIDIA 12-pin connector has six 12 V and six ground pins. Its designers specify higher quality contacts both on the male and female ends, which can handle higher current than the pins on 8-pin/6-pin PCIe power connectors. Depending on the PSU vendor, the 12-pin connector can even split in the middle into two 6-pin, and could be marketed as "6+6 pin." The point of contact between the two 6-pin halves are kept leveled so they align seamlessly.
As for the power delivery, we have learned that the designers will also specify the cable gauge, and with the right combination of wire gauge and pins, the connector should be capable of delivering 600 Watts of power (so it's not 2*75 W = 150 W), and not a scaling of 6-pin. Igor's Lab published an investigative report yesterday with some numbers on cable gauge that helps explain how the connector could deliver a lot more power than a combination of two common 6-pin PCIe connectors.
Looking at the keying, we can see that it will not be possible to connect two classic six-pins to it. For example pin 1 is square on the PCIe 6-pin, but on NVIDIA's 12-pin is has one corner angled. It also won't be possible to use weird combinations like 8-pin + EPS 4 pin, or similar—NVIDIA made sure people won't be able to connect their cables the wrong way.
On topic of the connector's proliferation, in addition to PSU manufacturers launching new generations of products with 12-pin connectors, most prominent manufacturers are expected to release aftermarket modular cables that can plug in to their existing PSUs. Graphics card vendors will include ketchup-and-mustard adapters that convert 2x 8-pin to 1x 12-pin; while most case/power manufacturers will release fancy aftermarket adapters with better aesthetics.
Update 08:37 UTC: I made an image in Photoshop to show the new connector layout, keying and voltage lines in a single, easy to understand graphic.
Sources:
FCPowerUp (photo), Igor's Lab
The new NVIDIA 12-pin connector has six 12 V and six ground pins. Its designers specify higher quality contacts both on the male and female ends, which can handle higher current than the pins on 8-pin/6-pin PCIe power connectors. Depending on the PSU vendor, the 12-pin connector can even split in the middle into two 6-pin, and could be marketed as "6+6 pin." The point of contact between the two 6-pin halves are kept leveled so they align seamlessly.
Looking at the keying, we can see that it will not be possible to connect two classic six-pins to it. For example pin 1 is square on the PCIe 6-pin, but on NVIDIA's 12-pin is has one corner angled. It also won't be possible to use weird combinations like 8-pin + EPS 4 pin, or similar—NVIDIA made sure people won't be able to connect their cables the wrong way.
On topic of the connector's proliferation, in addition to PSU manufacturers launching new generations of products with 12-pin connectors, most prominent manufacturers are expected to release aftermarket modular cables that can plug in to their existing PSUs. Graphics card vendors will include ketchup-and-mustard adapters that convert 2x 8-pin to 1x 12-pin; while most case/power manufacturers will release fancy aftermarket adapters with better aesthetics.
Update 08:37 UTC: I made an image in Photoshop to show the new connector layout, keying and voltage lines in a single, easy to understand graphic.
178 Comments on The Curious Case of the 12-pin Power Connector: It's Real and Coming with NVIDIA Ampere GPUs
Considering the sense pins and usually one reserved pin, would it have 6 +12V pins?
Still, I wouldn't like to change my PSU just yet.
As reference when a new cpu mounting standard are introduced from Intel/AMD usually cpu cooler manufacturers like Noctua and others send out free adapter kits to existing cpu cooler owners.
If we must rely on a included 8+8pin to 12pin cable adapter from the gfx card manufacturer the cable clutter will be even worse than before.
Also these 8+8pin to 12pin cabel adapters included with the gfx cards will probably all have different looks and be of various quality.
Dont @ me.
At least getting 600W+ from one connector will be a thing.
all modern psus have 8-pin connectors for PEG,not 6 -pin
it's a nice thing for sure,but if it gets released there will be normal 2x8-pin versions for sure.lol,connector market.
why wouldn't this be psu makers lobbying nvidia to use that connector to make ppl replace current psus ?
Plus this connector is too heavy and it will sag the cards down.
Genious!
Things might change in the future, I heard AMD had finally changed all the graphics marketing team. That was long due.
How do you know the connector is heavier than what's already out there? The dual 8pin connector that's currently on the 2080 Ti's should weigh more. It's just plastic and the same wires, it's just a different connector.
Current throughput relies on different things, what is currently known does not seem to give us a complete picture of what the connector will end up being. Capable of up to 600W is a strange thing to claim with so many unknowns.
The connector pinouts are not quite accurate.
While technically most PSUs provide +12V on pin 2 for 6-pin connector, that is not the spec and pin 5 accordingly is sense. 6-pin connector officially has 2 +12V pins.
Similarly, 8-pin connector includes 2 sense pins 4 and 6 and has 3 +12V pins.
I bet 12-pin connector will end up with 5 +12V pins.
and it's the cooler that sags the card not the connector unless you're wiring your cables wrong
How the hell do stuff like this end up on TPU lolOops turned out to be correct
I don't understand the outrage
a single connector woul be nice