Tuesday, December 31st 2024

AMD Radeon "RDNA 4" RX 9000 Series Will Feature Regular 6/8-Pin PCI Express Power Connectors

by
AleksandarK
 Discuss (133 Comments)
AMD will continue using traditional PCI Express power connectors for its upcoming Radeon RX 9000 series RDNA 4 graphics cards, according to recent information shared on the Chiphell forum. While there were some expectations that AMD would mimic NVIDIA's approach, which requires the newer 16-pin 12V-2×6 connector for its GeForce RTX 50 series, the latest information suggests a more traditional power approach. While AMD plans to release its next generation of graphics cards in the first quarter, most technical details remain unknown. The company's choice to stick with standard power connectors follows the pattern set by their recent Radeon RX 7900 GRE, which demonstrated that conventional PCI Express connectors can adequately handle power demands up to 375 W. The standard connectors eliminate the need for adapters, a feature AMD could highlight as an advantage. An earlier leak suggested that the Radeon RX 9070 XT can draw up to 330 W of power at peak load.

Intel reportedly cited similar reasons for using standard power connectors in their Arc "Battlemage" graphics cards, suggesting broader industry support for maintaining existing connection standards. NVIDIA's different approach reportedly requires all board partners to use the 12V-2×6 connector for the RTX 50 series, removing the option for traditional PCI Express power connectors. In contrast, AMD's decision gives its manufacturing partners more flexibility in their design choices, and MBA (Made by AMD) reference cards don't enforce the new 12V-2×6 power connector standard. Beyond the power connector details and general release timeframe pointing to CES, AMD has revealed little about the RDNA 4 architecture's capabilities. Only the reference card's physical appearance and naming scheme appear to be finalized, leaving questions about performance specifications unanswered, as early underwhelming performance leaks are somewhat unreliable until final drivers and final optimizations land.
Sources: Chiphell, via HardwareLuxx

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133 Comments on AMD Radeon "RDNA 4" RX 9000 Series Will Feature Regular 6/8-Pin PCI Express Power Connectors

#51
JustBenching
AusWolfNo, it's not, but I do have an opinion - namely, that any hobby gamer who thinks 10% is important lives in placebo world created and manipulated by clickbait reviews.
Realistically anything below 100% increase is kinda of a waste to upgrade to. Even 50% is meh, its' basically going from 30 to 45 fps.
Posted on Reply
#52
3valatzy
AcEIt’s fine because with 330W max it can easily get away with 2x8 pin connectors, but this isn’t particularly great, they won’t need to include an adaptor then. That’s it. Nvidia on the other hand needs to use new connector because the high end gpus are too power hungry and would need 4x 8 pin connectors which is too much, they want a small pcb for their ref cards and there’s no room for that. This is whole reason why they invented small connectors in the first place for small pcb design of the 3090 back then. That connector was just capable of 300W, it evolved to the industry standard 600W connector then which was used on PSUs and 3090 Ti and 40 series. And then that one evolved to the new one that is now used with newer psus and 50 series soon.
It's the other way round. 2 proven 8-pin connectors can carry 1000 watts with ease. While a single unproven 12VHPWR can carry up to 300 watts before starting to melt.
Posted on Reply
#53
clopezi
AVATARATPlease explain to me why Radeon is slower/badder?

Just skip me the DLSS drama

[BS and half lies]

But see rumors say the new 9000 cards will use lower watts and the new FSR will be like DLSS
You can buy what ever you want, but at least be consistent. You cannot say BS about DLSS and give a cent to rumours about FSR, which is worse without any doubt.

Most gamers love DLSS and most people are very happy with it. DLSS allows visual shows like CP2077 or Indiana Jones with very good frame rates.
Posted on Reply
#54
AcE
3valatzy2 proven 8-pin connectors can carry 1000 watts with ease. While a single unproven 12VHPWR can carry up to 300 watts before starting to melt.
No, only specific cables can do that if you use a random cable with that power combo you will have a nice fireplace instead. Specific thick cables and that’s not common. And that other thing you mentioned is just childish gibberish, the connector is proven. Maybe start living in the year 2024 now.
Posted on Reply
#55
Daven
JustBenchingRealistically anything below 100% increase is kinda of a waste to upgrade to. Even 50% is meh, its' basically going from 30 to 45 fps.
Or 100 to 150 fps... :)
Posted on Reply
#56
3valatzy
AcENo, only specific cables can do that if you use a random cable with that power combo you will have a nice fireplace instead. Specific thick cables and that’s not common. And that other thing you mentioned is just childish gibberish, the connector is proven. Maybe start living in the year 2024 now.
Proven in another reality. Don't know what you are smoking at Nvidia.

Posted on Reply
#57
AcE
3valatzyProven in another reality. Don't know what you are smoking at Nvidia.

Proven by millions of users who use it fine every day, including all 4090 users like myself, you’re talking nonsense my friend. :) Keep your fantasies in bed.
Posted on Reply
#58
JustBenching
DavenOr 100 to 150 fps... :)
Yeah, that's kinda useless. And achievable with minimum image quality sacrifices (turn down shadows from ultra to high, there ya go).

Problem with anything below a 100% increase is that you are paying 100% of the price for 50% extra performance.
Posted on Reply
#59
Ruru
S.T.A.R.S.
JustBenchingRealistically anything below 100% increase is kinda of a waste to upgrade to. Even 50% is meh, its' basically going from 30 to 45 fps.
True, yet I still went from 6700 XT to a 3080 :laugh:

To be honest, I just wanted a faster card for my 2nd PC (had a R9 290X previously) so I had a reason to put the 6700 XT to that machine.
Posted on Reply
#60
JustBenching
3valatzyIt's the other way round. 2 proven 8-pin connectors can carry 1000 watts with ease. While a single unproven 12VHPWR can carry up to 300 watts before starting to melt.
If that were the case, shouldn't all 12vhpwr melt? Like 100% of them? Obviously either reality is wrong or your statement.
Posted on Reply
#61
3valatzy
JustBenchingIf that were the case, shouldn't all 12vhpwr melt? Like 100% of them? Obviously either reality is wrong or your statement.
They all melt if you wait it long enough. Can you show a temperature image of the connector to see the extremely high resistance because of its weak mechanical construction?
Posted on Reply
#62
Ruru
S.T.A.R.S.
JustBenchingIf that were the case, shouldn't all 12vhpwr melt? Like 100% of them? Obviously either reality is wrong or your statement.
Yeah, the connector is ass, but I doubt that evey of them is burning. Especially with lower-power cards like 4070 and similar.
Posted on Reply
#63
AcE
JustBenchingIf that were the case, shouldn't all 12vhpwr melt? Like 100% of them? Obviously either reality is wrong or your statement.
It’s also funny he’s posting YouTube ragebait videos of the lowest quality according with his wrong statement. The connector works fine if not mishandled this was debunked a long long time ago and now over 2 years later people still don’t know that. :laugh: Gamers Nexus in an actually good video tried to mimic wrong usage of the connector and had a hard time making it burn, they had to put the connector half way in kinda and use games that used over 400W continuously and as far as I know mishandled the whole cable on top. Thats the amount of fail necessary to make the pretty safe connector melt. I now used the connector countless times with over 400 W usage with my 4090 and my PC is still fine, imagine. :D It is especially people who don’t know about the connector and never used it that spread this nonsensical information/fud.
Posted on Reply
#64
Ruru
S.T.A.R.S.
AcEIt’s also funny he’s posting YouTube ragebait videos of the lowest quality according with his wrong statement. The connector works fine if not mishandled this was debunked a long long time ago and now over 2 years later people still don’t know that. :laugh: Gamers Nexus in an actually good video tried to mimic wrong usage of the connector and had a hard time making it burn, they had to put the connector half way in kinda and use games that used over 400W continuously and as far as I know mishandled the whole cable on top. Thats the amount of fail necessary to make the pretty safe connector melt.
Yep, yet I still prefer the OG PCIe connectors. Space shouldn't be an issue with those 30cm+ monster cards.

IIRC some AIB dual-GPU cards had three or even four 8-pin connectors back in the day?
Posted on Reply
#65
Knight47
AusWolfOh hey, what's the difference between this and this? I'm getting lost among all these standards.
The 12VHPWR AND 12V2x6 cable is basically the same. The gpu and psu side changed.

hwbusters.com/news/no-more-12vhpwr-connector-say-hi-to-12v-2x6/
AcEthey want a small pcb for their ref cards and there’s no room for that.
They could do something like this or solder the wires to the PCB and move the connector to the end of the card like on blower gpu's.
Posted on Reply
#66
AcE
3valatzyThey all melt if you wait it long enough. Can you show a temperature image of the connector to see the extremely high resistance because of its weak mechanical construction?
You’re grasping for straws trying to make your absolutely wrong statement seem right. But your statement is extremely wrong, go watch the Gamers Nexus video I mentioned and maybe pay less intention to ragebaits / trashy common YouTube videos and your general bias is also negative, which is a bad place to start with in technology. :)
Posted on Reply
#67
JustBenching
3valatzyThey all melt if you wait it long enough. Can you show a temperature image of the connector to see the extremely high resistance because of its weak mechanical construction?
Ah, the unfalsifiable claim. You literally made a claim that can never be proven wrong, meaning it's worthless. Yeah eventually my prayers will be answered as well, just haven't waited long enough yet...
Posted on Reply
#68
AcE
Knight47The 12VHPWR AND 12V2x6 cable is basically the same. The gpu and psu side changed.

hwbusters.com/news/no-more-12vhpwr-connector-say-hi-to-12v-2x6/

They could do something like this or solder the wires to the PCB and move the connector to the end of the card like on blower gpu's.
This is just unnecessary, the modernising of power connectors was a long way coming and what you suggest would just make the card more complicated and less appealing. Nvidia wanted a simple approach with a tiny pcb design.
RuruYep, yet I still prefer the OG PCIe connectors. Space shouldn't be an issue with those 30cm+ monster cards.
Ofc you do, because most people are conservative. And again, no, the PCB was supposed to be tiny to make room for the airflow, go study 3090 cooler and pcb design. Everything has reasons and old power connectors will be changed one day.
Posted on Reply
#69
Ruru
S.T.A.R.S.
AcEOfc you do, because most people are conservative. And again, no, the PCB was supposed to be tiny to make room for the airflow, go study 3090 cooler and pcb design. Everything has reasons and old power connectors will be changed one day.
What is prohibiting AIBs with custom PCBs using traditional PCIe connectors?

edit: or soldering the connectors away from the PCB like with 1060 or 2060?
Posted on Reply
#70
AcE
RuruWhat is prohibiting AIBs with custom PCBs using traditional PCIe connectors?
Why should they use the outdated connectors, because a few people were unable to put the connectors in all the way and burned their card? You’re so conservative you’re asking to go backwards. That is reason 1. Reason 2 is Nvidia 100% said to use the new connector and did not even allow it. The extreme cards just used 2 of those.
Posted on Reply
#71
Ruru
S.T.A.R.S.
AcEWhy should they use the outdated connectors, because a few people were unable to put the connectors in all the way and burned their card? You’re so conservative you’re asking to go backwards. That is reason 1. Reason 2 is Nvidia 100% said to use the new connector and did not even allow it. The extreme cards just used 2 of those.
Because they just work? Outdated doesn't mean obsolete.

Don't fix it if it's not broken :rolleyes:
Posted on Reply
#72
AcE
RuruBecause they just work? Outdated doesn't mean obsolete.
Outdated means it’s obsolete if you need to use 3 or 4 of them on single GPU cards which was never done and will never be done.
RuruDon't fix it if it's not broken :rolleyes:
Being this conservative in a tech forum is just weird.
Posted on Reply
#73
freeagent
I like the new connector, works good for me :)
Posted on Reply
#74
Ruru
S.T.A.R.S.
AcEOutdated means it’s obsolete if you need to use 3 or 4 of them on single GPU cards which was never done and will never be done.

Being this conservative in a tech forum is just weird.
Whatever, bro. I like having two sleeved 8-pins on my 3080 instead of that rushed connector.
freeagentI like the new connector, works good for me :)
*for now* :D nah, just kidding. Your card isn't also that power hungry.
Posted on Reply
#75
freeagent
RuruWhatever, bro. I like having two sleeved 8-pins on my 3080 instead of that rushed connector.


*for now* :D nah, just kidding. Your card isn't also that power hungry.
I would have no worries about plugging in a 600w GPU either, Team Red is just soft and scared :D
Posted on Reply
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