In the shadow of complaints about the unique ATX 3.0 standard power connectors that NVIDIA uses in its RTX 4000 cards, AMD is making sure to remove at least one concern from the hearts of future Radeon RX 7000 users
Often the world of hardware and those responsible for standardization in it make controversial decisions and a very recent example of this is the invention of a new power connector for video cards after over a decade we are used to using the same 6PIN and 8PIN type power connectors from the power suppliers for such and such advanced video cards.
The advanced video cards from NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 30 series and especially the Founders Edition models produced by it included a new power connector called 12VHPWR and it is a 12-pin connector for power and another 4-pin connector for connectivity. At the time, the various manufacturers such as GIGABYTE and ASUS were not required to install this connector, and could continue to use the large and safe 8PIN connectors.
Now, with the GeForce RTX 40 series video cards with the RTX 4090 at the top, NVIDIA has decided to force the video card manufacturers that work with it to implement the 12VHPWR connector in the video cards when the power supply market is not yet logistically ready for it.
Together with the video card you will receive a bulky adapter which allows the connection of four 8PIN connectors to a single 12VHPWR connector. In the video card review, we gave our opinion on the new connector, and the risks involved in using it, especially when using such a bulky component, and one that unites a large number of tendons to a lower number.
The story of the problems with the 12VHPWR connector gained momentum recently when a Reddit user uploaded a photo showing a charred connector, and also the one on the video card. The reason for this is not the inability of the connector on the video card to withstand the high current, not necessarily but more of a partial and problematic contact as a result of using the adapter in question.
With high bending angles that are impossible to avoid in many cases, an incomplete and incomplete contact is created and as a result there are many hot spots, which will eventually lead to overheating of the contacts and melting of the plastic in the connector.
In a recent response on Twitter by Scott Harkelman, the director of AMD’s Radeon graphics card division, we are informed that AMD’s upcoming RX 7000 series graphics cards based on the RDNA 3 architecture will not use the 12VHPWR type power connector and will remain with the standard 6PIN and 8PIN connectors.
This is a statement that brings a sigh of relief to users who are not interested in the headache that 12VHPWR brings with the adapters and with the lack of power supplies that provide the connection directly.
AMD’s Radeon RX 7000 series has many reasons to delight users with bombastic statements. AMD can garner sympathy due to the promise of good prices, connectors that “just work” and decent performance with fair value in the shadow of the competitor’s startling prices and availability. It remains to be hoped that the products themselves will be good. To remind you, on November 3rd, AMD will hold an event where it will reveal its new video cards.