NVIDIA Confirms 12-pin GPU Power Connector
by Dr. Ian Cutress on August 26, 2020 9:00 AM EST
Today as part of a video showcasing NVIDIA’s mechanical and industrial design of its GPUs, and how it gets a large GPU to dissipate heat, the company went into some detail about how it needed to improve the design of all mechanical and electrical aspects of the board to aid cooling. This means implementing leaf springs for a back plate solution, as well as vapor chamber technology and using the right sorts of fans and fan management software.
As part of this video showcase, the company also shows its new 12-pin power connector. It also shows the 12-pin connector running perpendicular to the PCB, which is very interesting indeed.
Users who follow the tech news may have seen a few posts circling the internet regarding this 12-pin power connector, with a Seasonic cable that puts together two of the standard PCIe 8-pin connectors into one of NVIDIA’s new 12-pin designs.
Image from Hardwareluxx
NVIDIA states in the video that this 12-pin design is of its own creation. It isn’t clear if this is set to become a new standard in power cable connectivity for power supplies, however going forward we assume that most graphics cards that have this 12-pin power design will have to come with an additional 2x8-pin to 12-pin power cable included. We wait to see if that's the case, or if it will be up to future power supplies to bundle the appropriate connector.
More details about the connector are expected to appear on September 1st during NVIDIA’s GeForce Special Event.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
79 Comments
View All Comments
xenol - Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - link
Technically the 8+8 pin configuration isn't standard in the PCIe spec either. So AIBs have been pushing "non standard BS" for a while.Kevin G - Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - link
Newer iterations of the spec permit up to 525W split across three 8 pin power connectors (150W each) and the PCIe slot (75 W)MrVibrato - Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - link
I am sure you said the same when the ATX power connector was introduced, replacing the AT and LPX connectors. And i am also certain you said the same when the SATA power connector replaced Molex.What, you didn't? Pfft, lousy amateur...
DoomSlayer - Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - link
First Nvidia increase they GPUs to ridiculous price, then change power pin. which upset many people but are willing to tolerate. And now the Vertical power pin mount which is stupid.There many computer casing design that wouldn't fit, Take ITX builds for example.
I hope they drop Vertical pin, and switch to horizontal pin. Otherwise more reasons for me to switch to AMD GPUs if Nvidia don't use their brains for once.
DigitalFreak - Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - link
How do you know this isn't just for the RTX 3090? You aren't going to fit a FE 3090 in most mini-itx cases anyway.DoomSlayer - Thursday, August 27, 2020 - link
I can fit an RTX-Titan water-cooled in my ITX case....Spunjji - Friday, August 28, 2020 - link
But that's not an FE 3090, which by all accounts appears to be huge.It would probably be quite compact if you swapped the stock cooler for a water block, but at that point it would make more sense just to buy a water cooled version up front instead of throwing $100 worth of 300W TDP air cooling in the trash.
MrVibrato - Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - link
Do it. Switch over. Don't just yap about what you are going to do without actually doing it...DoomSlayer - Friday, August 28, 2020 - link
Ohh I will switch if all the AIBs follow the same Vertical design.Spunjji - Thursday, August 27, 2020 - link
Dude, if the ridiculous pricing didn't persuade you to switch then I'm highly doubting this will.