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
This is some bizarre Stockholm syndrome type of stuff.
Also, when you are a market leader, it means that there are more fanboys that will accept without discussion he compromises that you impose.
FWIW, the power draw is not necessarily a negative, it depends on the final performance and the final price. Anyways, it might still be just a rumor, as always, wait&see.
drawing 300w and losing to 1080Ti by a country mile
Would be a much better solution than a 8+8pin to 12pin adapter
I'm here to understand and discuss technology, fanboy flame wars are not my cup of tea.
we are outragedI hope this is true
my psu is 6 yo,due upgrade next year
You guys can't read Chinese?
以上的内容都是我编的。
Anyone with somewhat reasonable competency in Chinese would know it is literally a joke, nothing more.
fcpowerup are legit, they are reviewing power supply since birth of Jesus Christ, if you don't believe it, at least try to read the write up from igor labs.
tl;dr vendors randomly adding arbitrary power connectors is a bad thing for everyone concerned, which is one of the primary reasons the ATX specification exists.
As such, unilaterally introducing a new power connector outside the ATX spec would be an extremely foolish move by NVIDIA. Even if they feel that the current 6- and 8-pin connectors are suboptimal, if they want to replace or augment those connectors then they must do so via the standard. Anything else is Apple levels of hubris that will only end poorly.
This is not even getting into the possibility of Intel revoking ATX certification for Ampere GPUs and any PSUs that decide to include this connector - because Intel would be entirely within its right to do so.
As such, I see the possibility of this connector being introduced with Ampere as low. Much more likely is that NVIDIA is prepping it for inclusion into an upcoming revision of the ATX specification, and obviously that will entail sending it out to PSU manufacturers in order to get their feedback, hence the leaks.
maybe new one is coming
Working off leaks can be tempting for a smaller site though, I've been there many years ago
how surre are you tho ?
imo there might be two,a 2000-like with standard 2x8-pin and this new dual sided thing with the 12-pin
Also I'm highly skeptical how they plan on cooling 400+ W cards. Good 2080 Tis are like 35 dBA at 350 W, I'm not sure if I would buy a $1000+ card that's not quiet and that heats up my room like crazy, even if it can run 4K 120 Hz
and the new cooler design will be more expensive too