Seasonic Details 12-pin Modular Cable, Free for GeForce 30 Series Owners

[btarunr]

Seasonic today shared with us some additional details regarding its 12-pin Molex MicroFit 3.0 modular PSU cable, and how it plans to market it. If you've read our NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Founders Edition Unboxing Preview, you'll know that NVIDIA ships its Founders Edition cards with a printed warning not to use any third-party adapters to convert 8-pin PCIe power connectors to the 12-pin connector. The warning also asks you to use the included adapter, and that using a third-party adapter would void the warranty. There's no clarity from NVIDIA on whether modular cables that plug directly into a modular PSU and put out 12-pin connectors strictly fit this description, as they're not "adapters."

Seasonic believes that its cable is a perfect match for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards. The cable uses 16 AWG wires. Each 12 V pin of the connector is rated for 9 A current, which means the cable is capable of ferrying up to 540 W of power. On one end of the cable are two 8-pin 12 V connectors (which plug into the 12 V modular back-plane of your PSU), and on the other is one 12-pin connector. The cable is 75 cm in length. The cable is compatible with the company's Prime, Focus, and Core series modular/semi-modular PSUs.



If you own a Seasonic PSU (Prime/Focus/Core) and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics card that has a 12-pin input, then you're eligible to receive the cable free of charge. Later this week, on Wednesday, the Seasonic website will have an online form with which you can request the cable. You'll have to provide the serial number and a photo of the PSU, and proof of purchase and serial number for the GeForce 30 graphics card.

Certain RTX 30 series graphics card SKUs ask for 750 W (or higher) PSUs in their system requirements; while certain other RTX 30 series cards mention 650 W in their system requirements. Be sure that the PSU you're seeking your modular cable for meets the system requirements of the graphics card you own. Seasonic mentioned that it has limited supply of the cable, and hasn't yet decided if they want to sell the cable in the open market. The company will take a call on this by year-end.

A video presentation by Seasonic follows.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[ebivan]

Can I have it in 20cm? I don't know where to put the 75cm in my mini ITX build...

 

[Chomiq]

Wait for 30 series to ship and then wait again for seasonic to process your request and ship the cable to you. How about they also make it available for purchase for $10 + shipping? Time saved. But nah, someone from marketing decided that it would make them look bad.

 

[Legacy-ZA]

Well done to Seasonic, this is how it's done.

 

[chodaboy19]

Wait for 30 series to ship and then wait again for seasonic to process your request and ship the cable to you. How about they also make it available for purchase for $10 + shipping? Time saved. But nah, someone from marketing decided that it would make them look bad.

I hear you, but free is free.

 

[Dirtdog]

These new cards use too much power.

 

[MrAMD]

Wonder if EVGA will do the same for free also

 

[Legacy-ZA]

Wonder if EVGA will do the same for free also

I am wondering if Corsair will follow the same approach.

 

[ebivan]

Well this is a bold move and puts pressure on the other companies to do the same.
Remember AM4, most of the better brands provided free or cheap mounting kits for that too...

 

[P4-630]

I do like the design of the FE cards but it remains to be seen how cool it runs, also I'm waiting for AIB reviews as well and there's no 12 pin needed for those.
I do have a Seasonic PSU though, we'll see.

 

[Medicate]

Wait for 30 series to ship and then wait again for seasonic to process your request and ship the cable to you. How about they also make it available for purchase for $10 + shipping? Time saved. But nah, someone from marketing decided that it would make them look bad.

During the 3-5 days it would take for the cable to arrive you can use the adapter than Nvidia provides in the box. It's not that big of a deal. Also you can probably already request the cable as soon as you buy the 30 series, not when it arrives at your home. Usually you only need a proof of purchase, not proof of ownership.

 

[Chomiq]

During the 3-5 days it would take for the cable to arrive you can use the adapter than Nvidia provides in the box. It's not that big of a deal. Also you can probably already request the cable as soon as you buy the 30 series, not when it arrives at your home. Usually you only need a proof of purchase, not proof of ownership.

proof of purchase and serial number for the GeForce 30 graphics card

 

[Vayra86]

Can I have it in 20cm? I don't know where to put the 75cm in my mini ITX build...

Need to borrow scissors?

I do like the design of the FE cards but it remains to be seen how cool it runs, also I'm waiting for AIB reviews as well and there's no 12 pin needed for those.
I do have a Seasonic PSU though, we'll see.

I'd strongly advise to wait it out a little bit until 3070 hits and news arrives of what the x60 looks like. Unless you're dead set on 3080 perf and up. I think its likely that we'll get more royal VRAM endowed versions later down the line, and since you're modding games...

 

[mouacyk]

Guessing the X series are little out of date...

 

[Kokotas]

That's very kind of seasonic, well done. I'm still salty I had to pay €20 to have an 8pin PciE cable delivered to me though.

 

[ebivan]

Need to borrow scissors?

Honestly, I have been cutting PSU cables to length and then soldering them back together for more than 20 years now. I will do it again

 

[kiriakost]

Seasonic believes ... My opinion after testing 16AWG wires under programmable DC load this is that Seasonic marketing spokesman his is a clueless idiot.

Their note : The cable uses 16 AWG wires. Each 12 V pin of the connector is rated for 9 A current, which means the cable is capable of ferrying up to 540 W of power....This assumption it does worth in value equally to a roll of toilet paper.
Did they ever load 16 AWG with 9 Ampere so to discover how great is the loss of voltage ?

I would expect a video with measurements in to a laboratory with real electrical test and measurement equipment of some quality.

 

[mouacyk]

They might use a stronger gauge on the sold version.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Seasonic believes ... My opinion after testing 16AWG wires under programmable DC load this is that Seasonic marketing spokesman his is a clueless idiot.

Their note : The cable uses 16 AWG wires. Each 12 V pin of the connector is rated for 9 A current, which means the cable is capable of ferrying up to 540 W of power....This assumption it does worth in value equally to a roll of toilet paper.
Did they ever load 16 AWG with 9 Ampere so to discover how great is the loss of voltage ?

I would expect a video with measurements in to a laboratory with real electrical test and measurement equipment of some quality.

If it's "12-pin Molex MicroFit 3.0 " it's still the wrong connector/pins.

16g wire should be fine. MicroFit 3.0 pins are not.

 

[seasonic rep]

Seasonic believes ... My opinion after testing 16AWG wires under programmable DC load this is that Seasonic marketing spokesman his is a clueless idiot.

Their note : The cable uses 16 AWG wires. Each 12 V pin of the connector is rated for 9 A current, which means the cable is capable of ferrying up to 540 W of power....This assumption it does worth in value equally to a roll of toilet paper.
Did they ever load 16 AWG with 9 Ampere so to discover how great is the loss of voltage ?

I would expect a video with measurements in to a laboratory with real electrical test and measurement equipment of some quality.

Hi Kiriakost,

Thank you for your input on this.
Please note that we only follow NVIDIA's recommendation in order to provide the best cable possible.

Best Regards,
Seasonic Team.

 

[ArdWar]

16AWG is already larger than the maximum recommended size for off-the-self Molex MicroFit. The sleeve housing is ~2.4mm diameter, most 16AWG insulated wire is 2.4mm diameter.

Anyway, looking at the connector alone, 9A is probably the single circuit current capacity with good cooling all around individual contacts. 12-circuit current capacity would be about 5-6A. Maybe 9A if you sandpaper each pin and wet them with mercury or something before mating....

 

[ebivan]

16 AWG can easily put 5A through, at lenghts under one meter, that should be even less of a problem.
5A x 6 (wire pairs) comes to 30A
30A x 12V = 360W
Remember that these wires are free floating in an actively ventilated case, so I think even more than 5A on 75cm should not be a problem!
16 AWG is rated at 13 Ohm per km, so its about 0,0013 Ohm eespectively 0.0013 W per Meter of cable per amp per wire. That makes it 0.0156 for 12 Wires per Amp. For 5A that makes 0,078W. And all this is for a meter, so for 0,75cm is only 3/4 of that.
That wont get even warm!

 

[Hossein Almet]

Well, for $39.99 u can have the EVGA cable for your 3080 FE.

 

[ArdWar]

16 AWG can easily put 5A through, at lenghts under one meter, that should be even less of a problem.
5A x 6 (wire pairs) comes to 30A
30A x 12V = 360W
Remember that these wires are free floating in an actively ventilated case, so I think even more than 5A on 75cm should not be a problem!
16 AWG is rated at 13 Ohm per km, so its about 0,0013 Ohm eespectively 0.0013 W per Meter of cable per amp per wire. That makes it 0.0156 for 12 Wires per Amp. For 5A that makes 0,078W. And all this is for a meter, so for 0,75cm is only 3/4 of that.
That wont get even warm!

The wire itself is not a problem here, It's more about the connector current rating and its contact resistance.

Nevertheless, I'm sorry, but your wire dissipation calculation is off by two orders of magnitude. 16 AWG is indeed 13 Ohm/km, which is 0.013 Ohm/m, which is indeed 0.013 W/m/A. But that's end there because resistive power dissipation is not linear, but proportional to the square of current. One meter of 16 AWG wire carrying 5A would dissipate 0.013 * 5^2 = 0.325 W which is still fairly acceptable. Drooping 65mV in the process. 12 Wire total dissipation would be 3.9 W. One meter of 16 AWG wire carrying 9A on the other hand would dissipate ~1W, drooping 117mV. (IMO still acceptable, but someone might freak out looking at the droop).

The connector on the other hand, is rated at 10mOhm initial, with additional 20mOhm aging. These alone would dissipate 1-2 Watts per contact at 9A. That might not look much and not many cares, but power connectors do heat a lot, especially one with small physical size.

 

[kiriakost]

Hi Kiriakost,

Thank you for your input on this.
Please note that we only follow NVIDIA's recommendation in order to provide the best cable possible.

Best Regards,
Seasonic Team.

Hi Seasonic Team.
I have no doubt regarding positive intentions, but in this community they are members which they also have advanced understanding of product specifications.
We would expect crystal clear incoming data regarding actual electric properties even of a simple in design item as is your product which comes with a length of wires and connectors.
NVIDIA supplied their sort in length cable with 12P connector, which this is going to be used with full length wires them coming from the PSU it self.
Not all PSU (non modular) come with identical length of PCI-E 6+2 wires and connectors and wires resistance this will vary.

From the other hand I would expect one modular harness as is your product, this to be escorted with test report this be a proof that this is electrically loss free product at full load.
Fill free to illustrate of how I did similar testing at my humble laboratory to your engineers, at 8P CPU connector.
At my Blog I do not give away actual test results from the taken electrical measurements, I am just motivating people to use best practices by the use of electrical measurements and qualifying equipment.

July 2020 PSU CORSAIR CX750 Repair - CP9020015 - CWT PUQ-G - Quality Monster

July 2020 PSU CORSAIR CX750 Repair - CP9020015 - CWT PUQ-G - Quality Monster

www.ittsb.eu

The second method as test that it can be used for a product QC verification this is Resistivity benchmark.
Resistance of its wire among with the pins attached it should be known, so us (people performing product support and repairs) to be able to identify when a 12P cable has healthy all pairs of wires in that harness.

Resistivity benchmark ONLY for talented Precision benchtop multimeter

Resistivity benchmark ONLY for talented Precision benchtop multimeter

www.ittsb.eu

While I do not plan getting any RTX 3080, I am willing to perform electrical measurements of precision at the PSU and 12P cable that Seasonic considers as ultimate choice for gamers .