Thursday, September 22nd 2022
8-pin PCIe to ATX 12VHPWR Adapter Included with RTX 40-series Graphics Cards Has a Limited Service-Life of 30 Connect-Disconnect Cycles
PSUs with native 12+4 pin ATX 12VHPWR connectors are few and far between, which means some of the first adopters of the GeForce RTX 4090 "Ada" graphics cards will rely on the adapter cable that converts 8-pin PCIe power connectors into one 12VHPWR connector that plugs into the graphics card. Cards that stick to the baseline specs include adapters that convert three 8-pin PCIe connectors (for 450 W output that matches the RTX 4090 reference specs); whereas some premium overclocked RTX 4090 cards, such as the ZOTAC RTX 4090 AMP Extreme, include adapters that convert as many as four 8-pin PCIe to a 12VHPWR, maxing out its 600 W power delivery capability. The product page of the ZOTAC AMP Extreme has an interesting sentence describing this in-box adapter: "Limited service life with up to 30 connect / disconnects."
Apparently the adapter is only good for up to 30 connect/disconnect cycles safely, before you'll need another one. For most gamers who'll install the card and forget about it for years, this shouldn't be an issue. However, for overclockers and enthusiasts using the card on an open-air bench and who rely on a lot of moving cards around, this could be an irritant. Tech journalists (reviewers) swap graphics cards out a lot, too, but then they're likely to have several such adapters lying around from multiple samples, or a PSU with a native 12+4 pin connector.
Our best guess is that this is a mechanical limitation assessed by NVIDIA for the maximum number of times the adapter can handle connection cycles before its contacts begin to wear out, and its safety is compromised. If you look closely at the picture above, the adapter has an NVIDIA logo, which means NVIDIA is directly supplying this adapter to AIC partners to include with their custom-design cards (and not counting on them to develop their own adapters). The 12VHPWR connector may look diminutive, but it's capable of delivering not just 600 W continuously, but also handle 200% excursions (brief spikes in power draw), which mean 1200 W. This is a lot of current (12 V, 100 A, enough to crank an automobile), and so NVIDIA isn't taking any chances with safety.
Source:
Wccftech
Apparently the adapter is only good for up to 30 connect/disconnect cycles safely, before you'll need another one. For most gamers who'll install the card and forget about it for years, this shouldn't be an issue. However, for overclockers and enthusiasts using the card on an open-air bench and who rely on a lot of moving cards around, this could be an irritant. Tech journalists (reviewers) swap graphics cards out a lot, too, but then they're likely to have several such adapters lying around from multiple samples, or a PSU with a native 12+4 pin connector.
124 Comments on 8-pin PCIe to ATX 12VHPWR Adapter Included with RTX 40-series Graphics Cards Has a Limited Service-Life of 30 Connect-Disconnect Cycles
Something always gives when cutting corners and quite a few have been.
I am afraid the new nVidia power connector standard has no usefull life as it is. I wont feel bad if proven wrong( kudos to them if so).
"Pedantic" details are going to end up being the root of so many issues this incoming generation.
Joy.
In the same way, PSUs often ship with 6+2 PCIe power cables so they can plug into graphics cards that have six-pin port and/or eight-pin ports. My RTX 2070 Super FE has one of each.
The four additional pins are for sense signals. They don't deliver extra power.
If I understand correctly, these new GeForce 40 series cards don't require ATX 3.0 PSUs with the 12+4 power connectors. You can use an older, "dumb" PSU with the adapter pigtail. You won't be getting any of the "smarter" power communications between the GPU and PSU but the card will still get adequate power.
btw I am using one of these connector adapters with my 3090ti. It is perfectly safe.3090ti and all FE cards.Considering I own an evga branded one of these adapters with my 3090ti, really doubt it.power/wattage != amps/current
AC we have PF indeed but that's OT.
All good as long as the facts are, lol.
However, how many times are you going to realistically remove and install an Intel CPU? Especially so when virtually each new processor line requires a new motherboard. In some respects Intel might as well have soldered the CPU to the motherboard,.....
Not so with video cards,...