PCIe 5.0 connector for graphics cards gains options for 150W to 600W power
The specifications of the ATX 3.0 standard have been leaked and include details about the upcoming PCIe 5.0 power connector for video cards. This connector would have different power options, from 150W to 600W.
The PCIe 5.0 connector, officially called 12Vhpwr, will have 16 pins. Twelve of these are actually intended for power supply. The remaining four are reserved for sideband signals. That’s according to information from an ATX 3.0 design guide from Intel, which has been published by Twitter user momomo_us†
The pictures show four different cables with the PCIe 5.0 connectors. Those cables are labeled with power ratings of 150W, 300W, 450W and 600W. Previously, power supplies with the PCIe 5.0 connector appeared, including from ASUS, Cooler Master, Gigabyte and MSI. Those manufacturers already advertised with powers up to 600W, Wccftech also writes. That maximum power now seems to be confirmed.
Image via Twitter user momomo_us
The twelve pins, which are intended for power supply, can each supply 9.2A at a voltage of 12V, according to the documents. However, a temperature limit of 30ºC above the ambient temperature is maintained. So it seems that the maximum power of the connector is limited to 600W, due to the heat produced by the current flow.
The design guide further states that the PCIe 5.0 connector is not compatible with previous PCIe six- or eight-pin connections because the pins are spaced differently. That was previously reported by Igor’s Lab. Those users who have a video card with a PCIe 5.0 connector and an older power supply could use adapters, as is the case with the 12-pin connection that Nvidia uses for some GeForce RTX 30 reference cards.
The new PCIe 5.0 connection should be used in next-gen video cards. For example, according to VideoCardz, the upcoming Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti would use the new connector. That video card was announced in January, but Nvidia has not reported anything about the card since then. Rumor has it that this has to do with BIOS and hardware problems. The upcoming Ada Lovelace video cards from Nvidia would also use the connection, VideoCardz writes.
Images via Twitter user momomo_us and Wccftech