Wednesday, March 23rd 2022
Intel Introduces New ATX PSU Specifications
Intel has published the most significant update to industry power supply specifications since the initial ATX 2.0 specs were introduced in 2003. Updated ATX 3.0 specifications unlock the full power and potential of next-generation hardware and upcoming components built for technologies like PCIe Gen 5.0. Intel has also revised its ATX12VO spec to provide the PC industry with an updated blueprint for designing power supply units (PSUs) and motherboards that reduce power draw at idle, helping customers lower electrical demand.
"Power supplies based on ATX 3.0 and ATX12VO 2.0 will ensure anyone looking to get the most stable and cost optimized performance possible with highest power efficiency out of their desktop PCs will be able to do so - both now and in the future, " said Stephen Eastman, Intel platform power specialist.
Key new additions to the ATX 3.0 / ATX12VO 2.0 specifications include:
Beyond system performance, the ATX12VO spec is going to be integral to helping the PC industry meet multiple governmental energy regulations. Recently announced regulations for complete systems - such as the California Energy Commission's Tier 2 appliance efficiency requirements - make it so that OEMs and system integrators (SI) must use extreme low system idle power levels to reduce desktop idle power consumption. The ATX12VO specification is one of Intel's efforts to improve efficiency across OEM/SI systems and products for our industry partners.
The new specifications will have a positive impact for power and performance improvements across all desktop segments - from full-size towers to SFF systems - including a smaller connector, more flexible board designs and improved energy conversions.
MSI recently launched the first ATX12VO-based desktop systems - the Creator P100A and the MPG Trident AS - which are powered by 12th Gen Intel Core processors and an ATX12VO compliant PSU.
Additional products based on the new ATX 3.0 and ATX12VO 2.0 specifications are expected to arrive throughout 2022.
"Power supplies based on ATX 3.0 and ATX12VO 2.0 will ensure anyone looking to get the most stable and cost optimized performance possible with highest power efficiency out of their desktop PCs will be able to do so - both now and in the future, " said Stephen Eastman, Intel platform power specialist.
- A new 12VHPWR connector will power most, if not all, future PCIe 5.0 desktop Add-in cards (e.g., graphics cards). This new connector provides up to 600 watts directly to any PCIe 5.0 Add-in/graphics card. It also includes sideband signals that will allow the power supply to communicate the power limit it can provide to any PCIe 5.0 graphic card.
- New guidelines reflect the PCIe CEM Gen 5 power excursion limit for PCIe 5.0 add-in cards that was published in November 2021. Updated specifications include new DC output voltage regulation that will be necessary for managing new power excursion requirements.
- ATX12VO 2.0 also adds the I_PSU% feature to desktop platforms - delivering an Intel-driven innovation previously available on mobile and server platforms. This feature provides benefits to small form-factor (SFF) systems that can't employ larger power supplies. It also provides cost efficiencies for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as they are better able to right-size PSU selection to meet system requirements.
Beyond system performance, the ATX12VO spec is going to be integral to helping the PC industry meet multiple governmental energy regulations. Recently announced regulations for complete systems - such as the California Energy Commission's Tier 2 appliance efficiency requirements - make it so that OEMs and system integrators (SI) must use extreme low system idle power levels to reduce desktop idle power consumption. The ATX12VO specification is one of Intel's efforts to improve efficiency across OEM/SI systems and products for our industry partners.
The new specifications will have a positive impact for power and performance improvements across all desktop segments - from full-size towers to SFF systems - including a smaller connector, more flexible board designs and improved energy conversions.
MSI recently launched the first ATX12VO-based desktop systems - the Creator P100A and the MPG Trident AS - which are powered by 12th Gen Intel Core processors and an ATX12VO compliant PSU.
Additional products based on the new ATX 3.0 and ATX12VO 2.0 specifications are expected to arrive throughout 2022.
44 Comments on Intel Introduces New ATX PSU Specifications
Wonder if msi installed one of their aio's that produces goop inside
Not sure I'd try a new psu of theirs after that plus them scalping their own gpu's during mining spike.
Afterburner is all msi is good for.
too bad ! (also i don't think it's realistic to have a motherboard that can push 600 watt in a slot, but i am not an electrical engineer.)
ATX is key to PC, but it's also something very hard to change.
Don't mess with my PC, will you?
The people who will count the money are Molex. The design so far has been highly space inefficient. Good time for improvements
www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-atx-v3-psu-standard
Drives admittedly don't need high currents, but it's also why a lot of devices can't use the SATA power connectors, as the current draw is too high.
Are you short on space on your ATX motherboard? Admittedly smaller connectors would be great on mini-ITX type boards, but I doubt most people are suffering because the connectors are too big. Not saying things shouldn't improve and we're using a 27 year motherboard and PSU standard, but due to the industry being as complex as it is, it's really hard to change over to new standards, as not everyone will agree, think about backwards compatibility and so on...
A lot has changed in the cable and connector world for current transfer and connectivity. The problem with the current SATA power connectors? many of em. For once, you are not even using its voltage range by pinout anymore. This connector remains mostly to supply 12V today with 5V optional for the drives that need it (mechanical mostly).
I do agree this connector sucks btw, as much as I think the very old 4PIN one do. Im personally a fan of Molex' new Micro-fit 3.0 series, which can carry a lot of amperage and use small connectors. While im not a huge fan of the fact Molex will probably make money off of selling and lisencing it, any improvement is welcomed
ATX and MATX may not see too much from this, but MITX and some custom small form factor specific boards might really, really do.
2. Can someone please enlighten me as to EXACTLY why Intel gets to dictate the standards for PSU's and their related cables/connectors etc... ? Yea I know they have large marketshare, influence yada yada yada, but shouldn't some standards body (IEEE ?) be involved in this decision too ??????
I doubt this as I suspect they would lose anywhere from 60 to 90 percent of thier discrete graphic card customer base.
There must be special adapters, cables or both in the works for existing power supplies.
I also don't know but they published the initial standard and have been responsible for every major update as far as I know. There were other standards (by Intel or not) that were eventually abondoned because they didn't caught on, ATX seems to have been universally accepted, initially probably just because Intel said so but currently because no one wants to bother to do something better ¯\_(ツ)_/¯