NVIDIA: 12-pin Connector is Here to Stay on GeForce RTX 3070

[AleksandarK]

When NVIDIA announced its contest on Twitter for users to win a GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, by simply re-tweeting the post tagging a friend, there was something strange in the tweet. The concept art of the RTX 3070 card used in the post was a bit off. Instead of it featuring a regular design and connectors, the RTX 3070 picture used had an 8-pin PCIe power connector to power the card. That leads many to wonder what is going on with NVIDIA's new 12-pin power connector and has the company decided to abandon it so soon. However, we got the first response to those rumors from NVIDIA spokesman for Tom's Hardware. The company has responded that "tweet used concept art only, which is being replaced." So it was a marketing mistake, which NVIDIA is aware of and is fixing, and no, the 12-pin connector is not going away anytime soon it seems.


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[wolf]

It'd be pretty strange to backflip now, so early in the cycle. I don't really get the fuss if I'm honest, if you buy a card with the 12-pin, it comes with the adapter, sorted. Some manufacturers are even giving you a modular cable free, and if the looks are really THAT important to you and you don't get a free cable, you could buy a modular cable, or a card that uses the 6/8 pin cables.

 

[evernessince]

It'd be pretty strange to backflip now, so early in the cycle. I don't really get the fuss if I'm honest, if you buy a card with the 12-pin, it comes with the adapter, sorted. Some manufacturers are even giving you a modular cable free, and if the looks are really THAT important to you and you don't get a free cable, you could buy a modular cable, or a card that uses the 6/8 pin cables.

Same excuses that people were making for apple using it's own proprietary charging port.

The point is you shouldn't need a special cable when 2 x 8 pin would work perfectly fine. Nvidia's 12-pin connector is a compromise YOU as the customer are making for Nvidia's design choice.

Yes, you can get one adapter free for now. What happens if you loose it? How long term is Nvidia and it's partners going to make these 12-pin adapters? What happens in the off chance that your adapter malfunctions years down the road?

Just potential extra headaches that are completely unwarranted.

 

[dyonoctis]

Same excuses that people were making for apple using it's own proprietary charging port.

The point is you shouldn't need a special cable when 2 x 8 pin would work perfectly fine. Nvidia's 12-pin connector is a compromise YOU as the customer are making for Nvidia's design choice.

Yes, you can get one adapter free for now. What happens if you loose it? How long term is Nvidia and it's partners going to make these 12-pin adapters? What happens in the off chance that your adapter malfunctions years down the road?

Just potential extra headaches that are completely unwarranted.

isn't that 12 pin connector part of the movement trying to downsize the bulk of computers cable ? The ATX12VO ?

 

[Vayra86]

It'd be pretty strange to backflip now, so early in the cycle. I don't really get the fuss if I'm honest, if you buy a card with the 12-pin, it comes with the adapter, sorted. Some manufacturers are even giving you a modular cable free, and if the looks are really THAT important to you and you don't get a free cable, you could buy a modular cable, or a card that uses the 6/8 pin cables.

Or you could just buy a card from the competition and forget about all of this nonsense to begin with.

As people should. Nvidia totally misfired this timing. If they had pushed this down our throats with Turing while AMD had nothing to play with, sure. But now? This is dead until both camps move to a 12 pin.

It does fit the whole Ampere release in terms of misfiring. Not sure what drugs Huang was on, but damn.

isn't that 12 pin connector part of the movement trying to downsize the bulk of computers cable ? The ATX12VO ?

Its a strange definition of downsizing, that. I call it keeping busy

 

[Chomiq]

No worries, you still can't buy FE so problem solved.

 

[enxo218]

So is the money in my wallet

 

[BArms]

It'd be pretty strange to backflip now, so early in the cycle. I don't really get the fuss if I'm honest, if you buy a card with the 12-pin, it comes with the adapter, sorted. Some manufacturers are even giving you a modular cable free, and if the looks are really THAT important to you and you don't get a free cable, you could buy a modular cable, or a card that uses the 6/8 pin cables.

Can't find one for my Corsair PSU which is pretty strange. They're either never in stock or they haven't come out yet, not sure which.

 

[Mysteoa]

isn't that 12 pin connector part of the movement trying to downsize the bulk of computers cable ? The ATX12VO ?

It's not part of the ATX12VO specification, it's just Nvidia made up connector so it can save space on the PCB for their new cooler hole. Otherwise, PSU manufacture would not be salty when it was first reviled.

 

[wolf]

The point is you shouldn't need a special cable when 2 x 8 pin would work perfectly fine. Nvidia's 12-pin connector is a compromise YOU as the customer are making for Nvidia's design choice.

I guess we should not try to ever do things better, smaller, more efficient, more innovative then, status quo for the rest of time. I don't buy the argument to never improve something because the current solution is 'fine'.

Or you could just buy a card from the competition and forget about all of this nonsense to begin with.

As people should.

So because the founders editions have the 12 pin I should.... buy AMD? Personally I bought a RTX3080 partner card for a long list of reasons, the 12 pin was not one of them.

 

[psefergr]

I guess we should not try to ever do things better, smaller, more efficient, more innovative then, status quo for the rest of time. I don't buy the argument to never improve something because the current solution is 'fine'.

So because the founders editions have the 12 pin I should.... buy AMD? Personally I bought a RTX3080 partner card for a long list of reasons, the 12 pin was not one of them.

the picture shows the card with 8pin!

 

[R-T-B]

the picture shows the card with 8pin!

And?

 

[Caring1]

the picture shows the card with 8pin!

Read the OP.

 

[evernessince]

isn't that 12 pin connector part of the movement trying to downsize the bulk of computers cable ? The ATX12VO ?

I'm not against downsizing the size of connectors but switching standards is always a hassle. Launching with zero power supplies supporting the standard, especially given Nvidia's size, is poor execution.

I guess we should not try to ever do things better, smaller, more efficient, more innovative then, status quo for the rest of time. I don't buy the argument to never improve something because the current solution is 'fine'.

No, just don't execute poorly and make a hassle for customers. The "argument" you don't agree with is a strawman completely fabricated in your own mind. Instead of addressing the concerns I mentioned earlier, you instead decide to imply I said things I never did. Those concerns were legitimate, doing something "new" doesn't give you a free pass on doing it poorly.

 

[wolf]

No, just don't execute poorly and make a hassle for customers. The "argument" you don't agree with is a strawman completely fabricated in your own mind. Instead of addressing the concerns I mentioned earlier, you instead decide to imply I said things I never did. Those concerns were legitimate, doing something "new" doesn't give you a free pass on doing it poorly.

I offer my apologies, I answered only a small part of your message and took it too far.

Changing something virtually always comes with hassle to some extent or another, granted I don't think they did a 'perfect' implementation of the new connector, this feels like a pretty gentle way to push it out, only a limited number of their founder only cards come with them, and hassle minimisation has been entered into with the adapter. I wouldn't think many PSU manufacturers would start making/shipping their products with the 12 pin prior to any product existing that needed it, at least not significantly ahead. I'm willing to grant you could lose the adapter, and it could malfunction, but I don't think they're significant roadblocks to starting the journey of an improved connection.

I don't think they get a free pass on doing it 'poorly', I just don't think it's really all that big of a deal.

 

[psefergr]

And?

You are right i should be more observant