Monday, March 13th 2023

Intel Readies ATX 12VHPWR Connector Revision to Address Improper-Contact Fire Hazards

by
btarunr
 Discuss (52 Comments)
Intel is preparing a revision to the design of the 12+4 pin ATX 12VHPWR power connector, specifically its male connector, to improve connector mating and retention; and to minimize a potential fire hazard asiring from improper retention or mating. The male connector design revision will retain full compatibility with female connectors of devices in circulation. It essentially sees the pins of the male connector switch from a "three dimple" joint to a "push-spring" type joint. This design change makes the male connector much more resilient to weakening contact from pull forces arising from cable bending. The resulting connector would offer superior structural integrity of the connection.
Source: harukaze5719 (Twitter)

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52 Comments on Intel Readies ATX 12VHPWR Connector Revision to Address Improper-Contact Fire Hazards

#1
wolf
Better Than Native
Interesting revision, I wonder how much it helps. Also, of course improperly seated high power electronics can be a fire hazard, but I'm curious if there have been any reports of fire with 40 series cards so far, or just melted connectors?
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#2
LabRat 891
Wait-a-second.
Image on left is current-spec?
I only see 6x tiny circular areas of contact / mating-surface.
Rev. B, with it's 'leaf-spring' style contacts, should've been 1st-attempt! (that's how it usually goes, TBF)

Part of me wonders if this was on-purpose to 'maliciously address' the influx of cheapo-import adapters and extensions? The only 'trustworthy' adapters will be Intel Rev. B-compliant, and probably from contracted-ODMs and companies that are also Board Partners.
I mean... it's not like we haven't seen 'Big Boys of their Industry' purposely 'gimp' a first release of a device/spec. *cough*Nintendo*cough*
Posted on Reply
#3
maxfly
I say revision 4 will be the real winner hehe. You know when they revert back to 8pin connectors all around! Aaaahahaha

Seriously tho, at least they're trying. Altho, if I were Nvidia, I would want to be directly involved with any revisions to MY connector.
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#4
Garrus
maxflyI say revision 4 will be the real winner hehe. You know when they revert back to 8pin connectors all around! Aaaahahaha

Seriously tho, at least they're trying. Altho, if I were Nvidia, I would want to be directly involved with any revisions to MY connector.
The weird thing is we could have just switched GPUs to the CPU power connector and got 300W without any effort. Would have made more sense imo.
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#5
Rais
This isn't needed, it's all customer fault who can properly insert the connector which is perfect.
Posted on Reply
#6
enb141
Damn, I just got my Seasonic Vertex PSU, which right now is obsolete already :mad:
Posted on Reply
#7
Crackong
GarrusThe weird thing is we could have just switched GPUs to the CPU power connector and got 300W without any effort. Would have made more sense imo.
Agreed.
EPS12V connector is widely used in the server space GPUs and 2 of them provide 600W already.
Same footprint as the current connector, almost the same tooling, and server market tested.
Posted on Reply
#8
kondamin
LabRat 891Wait-a-second.
Image on left is current-spec?
I only see 6x tiny circular areas of contact / mating-surface.
Rev. B, with it's 'leaf-spring' style contacts, should've been 1st-attempt! (that's how it usually goes, TBF)

Part of me wonders if this was on-purpose to 'maliciously address' the influx of cheapo-import adapters and extensions? The only 'trustworthy' adapters will be Intel Rev. B-compliant, and probably from contracted-ODMs and companies that are also Board Partners.
I mean... it's not like we haven't seen 'Big Boys of their Industry' purposely 'gimp' a first release of a device/spec. *cough*Nintendo*cough*
so they send out a new cable to the people who bought an old psu.
that’s the beauty of modular power supply’s.
Posted on Reply
#9
cchi
CrackongAgreed.
EPS12V connector is widely used in the server space GPUs and 2 of them provide 600W already.
Same footprint as the current connector, almost the same tooling, and server market tested.
Yeah technically the most sensible solution, but the "problem" is that EPS12V is from SSI and not PCI association.
Basically similar to the DP vs HDMI conundrum.
Posted on Reply
#10
Spackle
Sounds like the standard Engineering process: 25% of the time spent designing the product, then the other 75% spent re-designing it to try & prevent morons from misusing it in ways no normal person would even consider. There's a reason why these connectors are designed to click once they're seated properly...
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#11
Crackong
cchiYeah technically the most sensible solution, but the "problem" is that EPS12V is from SSI and not PCI association.
Basically similar to the DP vs HDMI conundrum.
I thought the main 'problem' of HDMI is the license fee?

Does EPS12V need a license fee ?
Posted on Reply
#12
TheDeeGee
maxflyI say revision 4 will be the real winner hehe. You know when they revert back to 8pin connectors all around! Aaaahahaha

Seriously tho, at least they're trying. Altho, if I were Nvidia, I would want to be directly involved with any revisions to MY connector.
"MY connector".

You still believe Nvidia designed the whole thing huh?

Some people just want to believe i guess, so they can hate on Nvidia.
Posted on Reply
#13
sephiroth117
wolfInteresting revision, I wonder how much it helps. Also, of course improperly seated high power electronics can be a fire hazard, but I'm curious if there have been any reports of fire with 40 series cards so far, or just melted connectors?
melted connectors and damaged GPU to my knowledge but the risk is real

however since Nvidia reported that it was due to bad seating (and proved it alongside tech outlets like GN), there have been far fewer mentions of this issue

Still, a design that is not user fault-tolerant enough does need revision, plus here the revision would just be a new cable rather than changing everything
Posted on Reply
#14
Garrus
CrackongAgreed.
EPS12V connector is widely used in the server space GPUs and 2 of them provide 600W already.
Same footprint as the current connector, almost the same tooling, and server market tested.
I feel like the only point of the new GPU connector is they want to release GPUs that are from 600W-900W. Two CPU EPS connectors are already perfect for up to 600W. More than enough.
Posted on Reply
#15
TheDeeGee
enb141Damn, I just got my Seasonic Vertex PSU, which right now is obsolete already :mad:
No?

The PSU has a female connector like the GPU, both cable ends are male. Just replace the cable.
Posted on Reply
#16
TheoneandonlyMrK
Well if it ain't broken don't fix it, wait what.

As many stated a poor design is piss poor in this day and age.
Posted on Reply
#17
watzupken
TheDeeGee"MY connector".

You still believe Nvidia designed the whole thing huh?

Some people just want to believe i guess, so they can hate on Nvidia.
The connector is a standard. However, the way that Nvidia handled the issue is not exactly the best in my opinion, Here at least we see that Intel learned from the lesson and is trying to improve the situation and make the connectivity less iffy. Nvidia's last statement was that the issue was a user problem, full stop. The cards that Nvidia are selling are not exactly cheap, and not doing anything don't sound right to me.
Posted on Reply
#18
semantics
watzupkenThe connector is a standard. However, the way that Nvidia handled the issue is not exactly the best in my opinion, Here at least we see that Intel learned from the lesson and is trying to improve the situation and make the connectivity less iffy. Nvidia's last statement was that the issue was a user problem, full stop. The cards that Nvidia are selling are not exactly cheap, and not doing anything don't sound right to me.
There was no issue when nvidia used a very similar connector for the 3xxx series, the 4 sense pins was intel's whole thing to add it to atx and to pci-sig. 12VHPWR is intel's standard but it's nvidia's fault for using it?
Posted on Reply
#19
trsttte
maxflyI say revision 4 will be the real winner hehe. You know when they revert back to 8pin connectors all around! Aaaahahaha
Yeah, I still don't get the motivation for going with such a complicated connector, just pump the power spec on the 8 pin molex, it can easily handle it
maxflySeriously tho, at least they're trying. Altho, if I were Nvidia, I would want to be directly involved with any revisions to MY connector.
It's not their connector, it's from PCI SIG, which Intel is also a part of.
semanticsThere was no issue when nvidia used a very similar connector for the 3xxx series, the 4 sense pins was intel's whole thing to add it to atx and to pci-sig. 12VHPWR is intel's standard but it's nvidia's fault for using it?
There were as much issues as there are now (1 or 2 users who didn't connect it properly is not a real issue). The sense pins are from pci-sig and always were, just like they exist with 6 or 8 pin connectors. Intel just handles the ATX power standard because they were the only ones to bother to.
Posted on Reply
#20
ZoneDymo
SpackleSounds like the standard Engineering process: 25% of the time spent designing the product, then the other 75% spent re-designing it to try & prevent morons from misusing it in ways no normal person would even consider. There's a reason why these connectors are designed to click once they're seated properly...
design 101: if the consumer does not understand your product, you designed it poorly.

the designer makes the product for people to use, its their job to make sure its usable and understandable, its their failure if it isnt.
Posted on Reply
#21
maxfly
trsttteYeah, I still don't get the motivation for going with such a complicated connector, just pump the power spec on the 8 pin molex, it can easily handle it
The age old, create a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
trsttteIt's not their connector, it's from PCI SIG, which Intel is also a part of.
Yep yep. Point being, there's only one multi billion dollar corporation (headed by a narcissistic megalomaniac) using this pre configured connector, that juuust might want a little bit more input this time around. Considering how well the first iteration went over I'd say that's a safe bet. Huang isn't known for his ability to allow "great ideas" to go untouched afterall.
Posted on Reply
#22
enb141
TheDeeGeeNo?

The PSU has a female connector like the GPU, both cable ends are male. Just replace the cable.
If is just the cable that needs replacement, hopefully Seasonic will release this cable soon :)
Posted on Reply
#23
hat
Enthusiast
I propose this plug instead
Posted on Reply
#24
jonnyGURU
Must be a slow news day. This is as old as old gets and yet today it's "reported" on a dozen websites.
Posted on Reply
#25
RegaeRevaeb
RaisThis isn't needed, it's all customer fault who can properly insert the connector which is perfect.
I'm hoping you meant that ironically. Yes, end users hold a certain amount of responsibility to use products (i.e. plugs here) as directed as a reasonable person would. This now means plugging everything in fully -- with authority -- and not bending the cable until it's clear 'X' cm. But that's come after issues were raised.

The strong information campaign by industry manufacturers, for example, is evidence that overall responsibility doesn't fall fully with end users. And, I'd are the Intel revision is a product in large part born from industry procucer responsibility -- liability, if you haven't yet decoded what I've been getting at.

(edited for grammar)
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