Monday, July 3rd 2023
12VHPWR Connector Said to be Replaced by 12V-2x6 Connector
According to Igor's Lab, who has gotten their hands on a PCI-SIG draft engineer change notice, it looks like the not entirely uncontroversial 12VHPWR connector won't be long lived. The PCI-SIG is getting ready to replace it with the 12V-2x6 connector, which will be part of the ATX 3.1 spec and the PCI Express 6.0 spec. The new connector doesn't appear to have any major physical changes though, but there have been mechanical modifications, such as the sense pins having been recessed further back, to make sure a proper contact is made before higher power outputs can be requested by the GPU. The good news is that at least in the draft spec, the 12V-2x6 connector will be backwards compatible with 12VHPWR connectors.
One of the bigger changes, at least when it comes to how much power the new connector can deliver, is that there will be new 150 and 300 Watt modes in addition to the 450 and 600 Watt modes for the sense pin detection. The 12V-2x6 connector is rated for at least 9.2 Amps per pin and the new connectors will carry a H++ logo, with th older 12VHPWR connectors getting a H+ logo. The PCI-SIG has also added stricter requirements when it comes to the cable design and quality, which should hopefully prevent some of the issues the 12VHPWR implementations have suffered from. We should find out more details once the PCI-SIG has finalised the 12V-2x6 connector specification. In the meantime, you can hit up the source link for more technical drawings and details.
Source:
Igor's Lab
One of the bigger changes, at least when it comes to how much power the new connector can deliver, is that there will be new 150 and 300 Watt modes in addition to the 450 and 600 Watt modes for the sense pin detection. The 12V-2x6 connector is rated for at least 9.2 Amps per pin and the new connectors will carry a H++ logo, with th older 12VHPWR connectors getting a H+ logo. The PCI-SIG has also added stricter requirements when it comes to the cable design and quality, which should hopefully prevent some of the issues the 12VHPWR implementations have suffered from. We should find out more details once the PCI-SIG has finalised the 12V-2x6 connector specification. In the meantime, you can hit up the source link for more technical drawings and details.
137 Comments on 12VHPWR Connector Said to be Replaced by 12V-2x6 Connector
Motherboards would need to be able to handle that power delivery, thicker copper traces will be needed to handle the wattage, PCI-E slot would need an overhaul for that power delivery......
Some motherboard manufactures have started doing this with prototypes for dummies to beta test, they have even started moving the connectors to the back side of the motherboard (your going to need a special PC case here btw), is it a good idea ? Time will tell .... and if we start seeing melted connectors etc.
But then after nine times you've figured that out... and you just can't get the tiny bugger in there :D I like to use a creditcard or something to push it down until its level with the 6..
The cable that came with the RTX 3090 FE will have the NTK female pins in it (12VHPWR end, 1st gen connector without the sense pins), so you should be fine there.
See here
and here
They should be using the NTK female pins.
Astron does a worse job by all accounts and I wouldn't like getting them either, but the stats are still very low on burnup even with the plethora of Astrons out there. If it fits tight and doesn't move I'd not worry much.
The egotistical ignore they're wrong, but the genuinely inquisitive learn something new; something that otherwise would've taken years of dedicated work/study (or more).
The 5600X3D discussion on TPU is an example, IMHO:
Some of the conjecture from 'armchair experts' proved out correct, or *very* close to what was revealed just before and with the announcement.
Just because someone is 'un(der) qualified' doesn't change how accurate/inaccurate their opinions and statements are. (vis-a-vis for 'the well-qualified expert' that history often proves wrong).
As you can see in the image below, these are using the ASTRON female pins (pins with dimples).
If anyone buys one of these, I hope they don't end up with the connectors melting.
UPDATE - They may have updated these connectors to use the NTK female pins on the WireView PMD, will have to wait and see when this device get's reviewed / into end users hands for more info.
I'll openly admit I have no idea what you were talking about, then. (I'd bet the person you quoted is probably clueless too, but that's between you 2)
Shoving 50 - 110.4 watts (volts x amps = watts) through one pin via those dimples is the problem - it's going to generate heat, lots of it if only three or two or one of those dimples are making contact with the male pin.
Now you have a 2nd issue, the power delivery via that pin is not enough, so the next pin is going to be supplying the the extra power, now this pin is getting hot because of the issue with the first pin, now duplicate that with the next pin and the next pin and so on because they are not making full contact with all the dimples on the male pin (small contact point / surface area), your going to end up with this mess below.
Can user error be blamed here ?
Sure, people make mistakes, but most will have pushed this connector in all the way and still have melted connectors, even with those 3rd party cables and those right angled adapters (CableMod).
So, now that leads to here, where are the melted connectors using the NTK female pins ?
If you have one, I'd love to see it !
I hope next Gen cards don't have the power sucker right in the middle. Aesthetically speaking, i preferred those x2/x3 8-pin hookups with sleeved cables pouring out like the Niagara Falls. That was art! The 12-pin looks like a lonely fart.