Since the initial reports of issues with the 16-pin (12VPHWR) power connector, NVIDIA has been actively developing an improved version. The instances of cable melting were found to be a result of inadequate connections between the power supply and GPU, leading to overheating. Consequently, the main focus of the revised connector was to enhance safety measures in order to minimize such occurrences effectively.
According to reports, the company has been actively developing a new connector design for several months. The design, known as 12V2x6, incorporates enhanced standardized testing procedures to ensure compliance with specific cable specifications. Notably, this new design aligns with the PCIe Base 6 specifications and is included in the proposed CEM 5.1 specifications by PCI SIG for the ATX 3.1 specifications. However, it’s important to note that this design is not the final version and is still part of an unreleased draft.
While the PCIe Base 6 connector will maintain compatibility with certain existing 12VHPWR connectors, the new version will introduce distinct specifications and modified sustained power metrics. These changes might necessitate firmware adjustments in power supplies or graphics cards.
The headers for the 12VHPWR and 12V-2×6 connectors remain unchanged, meaning that cables should remain compatible. Both connectors will continue to utilize the same 12 power rails and four sense pins, which receive significant attention in the updated version. Notably, the pins have been adjusted to be positioned further back, ensuring they engage only when the cable is fully inserted. Additionally, encoding will need to be updated to align with the new standards.
At present, NVIDIA and PCI-SIG are in the process of evaluating two options for the cable connector design, and a final decision has not been made yet. However, the current draft of the connector is in an advanced stage, and there is a possibility that it will be implemented in upcoming graphics cards, potentially as part of NVIDIA’s mid-series refresh next year.
It’s worth mentioning that the 12V-2×6 connector was already visible on some power supplies showcased at Computex last month. MSI, for instance, presented a new yellow connector that appears to have been designed to meet the new standard, as indicated by the updated label on the supply.
Via Igor’sLAB