Thursday, August 27th 2020

NVIDIA "Ampere" 12-pin Power Connector Pictured Some More

Korean tech publication QuasarZone posted three high-res pictures of the new Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 12-pin connector that NVIDIA adapted for its GeForce "Ampere" graphics cards, at least the reference-design Founders Edition ones. As we detailed extensively in an older article, the 12-pin connector has significantly smaller pins than the standard PCIe power connectors, and is only slightly longer than an 8-pin PCIe power connector. Placed side by side, you can tell how the PCIe connector is taller, if not wider. Despite its relatively compact dimensions, the 12-pin connector is rumored to be rated for a significantly higher power delivery than the 8-pin connector, with some of the oldest reports even suggesting 600 W. The cables going into the 12-pin connector appear to be of a higher gauge than the ones making up the 8-pin. NVIDIA in a video presentation released on Wednesday explained how it plans its upcoming GeForce graphics cards to address many fundamental engineering problems with modern graphics cards, in the areas of efficiency heat dissipation, board durability, and power delivery.
Source: QuasarZone
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38 Comments on NVIDIA "Ampere" 12-pin Power Connector Pictured Some More

#26
ppn
what if the new plug is standing at 45 and 90° angle.
Posted on Reply
#27
Upgrayedd
ppnwhat if the new plug is standing at 45 and 90° angle.
I seen that. Wtf was that, it was all space saving then stuck it in vertically. Maybe it saves more space on the PCB for something else.
Posted on Reply
#28
Zotz
So a card maker uses a smaller on-board connector and provides an adapter cable....

This makes world headlines? Raging arguments across the forums? Gawd.

Score another one for NVidia marketing which all by themselves can bury Radeon - better products or not.
Posted on Reply
#29
stimpy88
So the nGreedia hype train is built on...

1.) A new triple slot cooler design, that's the bestest evaaaaar. Marketing BS for "It's hot".
2.) A new 12pin Molex connector that's the bestest evaaaaar. Marketing BS for "it's power hungry, and you have to look at buying a new 850W PSU anyway", 'cos it eats power for breakfast, and spits out heat.
3.) A new high price, which is the bestest evaaaaar. nGreedia BS for everybody needs to buy them a beer, because of all the good we do...
4.) I'm really struggling here...

Great... But I liked it more when there were new features and serious performance improvements to look forward to, and not just a space heater halo card pushed beyond its limits, while pushing the cost of entry to PC gamers in to the stratosphere, right at a time where we are looking at new consoles which will perform the same for all intents and purposes, for a fraction of the price, and problems.

I look forward to when sanity prevails, but I think that's a long way off.
Posted on Reply
#30
Dredi
XuperI'm just talking about those 12 pins so they can't handle more amp than those 2x8 pins.What I thought that 12 pins is equal or better than 2x8 pins which is not true
Yup, the mini fit jr has superior current characteristics in same PCB area to micro fit. The problem is that they can’t just re-use the same connector as it would confuse people, so they simply chose the least bad other option.
Posted on Reply
#31
PLAfiller
ZotzScore another one for NVidia marketing which all by themselves can bury Radeon - better products or not.
Ahahaha, that was such a good observation/burn :). I love it when a department in a company does the job well.

On topic: we get an adapter, so not much to complain about. I'd prefer 10/10 for this adapter to be 90 degree or something like EVGA cable-hiding-thingy, but not proprietary of course.
Posted on Reply
#32
kiriakost
Smaller diameter of pin this might translate that actual male pin this is made of a different composition, perhaps more gold plating on it?

NVIDIA this feels confident that their own wired adaptor an 12P to double 8 Pin this will do the job too.
What is missing from the puzzle this is a high in resolution picture of the actual 12P connector pins over the graphic card.
Posted on Reply
#33
Milky
As an electrical engineer I spend far too much of my time choosing connectors with appropriate power specifications. It's probably one of the more boring aspects of my job. I'm finding it very amusing that there are now whole threads of discussion over a power connector! :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#34
EarthDog
MilkyAs an electrical engineer I spend far too much of my time choosing connectors with appropriate power specifications. It's probably one of the more boring aspects of my job. I'm finding it very amusing that there are now whole threads of discussion over a power connector! :laugh:
"zomg EnVidEaUh (EnGr33d1a) has 2 p0wer 1ts r3act0r"

...as said from the usual suspects. Par for this course!
Posted on Reply
#35
Wshlist
stimpy88So the nGreedia hype train is built on...

1.) A new triple slot cooler design, that's the bestest evaaaaar. Marketing BS for "It's hot".
2.) A new 12pin Molex connector that's the bestest evaaaaar. Marketing BS for "it's power hungry, and you have to look at buying a new 850W PSU anyway", 'cos it eats power for breakfast, and spits out heat.
3.) A new high price, which is the bestest evaaaaar. nGreedia BS for everybody needs to buy them a beer, because of all the good we do...
4.) I'm really struggling here...

Great... But I liked it more when there were new features and serious performance improvements to look forward to, and not just a space heater halo card pushed beyond its limits, while pushing the cost of entry to PC gamers in to the stratosphere, right at a time where we are looking at new consoles which will perform the same for all intents and purposes, for a fraction of the price, and problems.

I look forward to when sanity prevails, but I think that's a long way off.
This card is for the 0.1% and they can easily buy a new PSU with the new cable, plus water cooling of course..
Posted on Reply
#36
Dredi
dragontamer5788Wouldn't 5A per pin only supply 360W? (12 pins x 12V x 5A / 2: where "divided by 2" is because +power must also travel to the -power pins).

EDIT: Also +75W from the PCIe connection. So I guess 435W. IIRC, rumors are that this is a ~400W board, so I guess 5A per pin + 75W PCIe connection is within specifications. 2x8 pin is 300W (150W per 8-pin connector).
Yeah, but you can add more amps if you have active cooling for the connector, or don’t mind it melting.
Posted on Reply
#37
kiriakost
DrediYeah, but you can add more amps if you have active cooling for the connector, or don’t mind it melting.
Were did you get this fake-news tip from ? Wikipedia for five years old ones ?

Temperature this generated at metal pins when amperage this is all ready excessive.
If the connector housing this become warm at 35C then you better stop right away of what you are doing.
Posted on Reply
#38
Caring1
"The cables going into the 12-pin connector appear to be of a higher gauge than the ones making up the 8-pin."

Shouldn't that be a smaller gauge?
The wire size has increased, making it a lower number, from 18AWG to possibly 16AWG.
That equates to roughly a 30% increase in power transmissable.
Posted on Reply
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