12V2x6 Is Yet Another GPU Connector Looking To Fix 12VHPWR’s Problems

12V2x6 Is Yet Another GPU Connector Looking To Fix 12VHPWR’s Problems

The 12VHPWR connector has gained notoriety due to its tendency to melt GPUs and power supplies, and investigations eventually concluded that it was largely a user error due to incorrectly seated connectors. However, it has been demonstrated that even when the connector is seated, it’s still possible to unseat it ever so slightly to induce loose contacts and thus triggers a meltdown.

Igor’sLAB has reported that NVIDIA is currently designing a new pin-compatible GPU connector to supersede the 12VHPWR, this time named 12V2x6 (pronounced “twelve volt two by six”). This will be the third 12-pin GPU connector in recent years, starting from the proprietary 12-pin in RTX 30 series Founders Edition GPUs. The 12V2x6 will feature the same 12+4-pin design, though it’s now modified to reduce the chances of meltdown incidents.

The connector will feature more standardized testing which should keep the quality consistent from different connector makers and providers; and the most important change is the reduction in length of the pins – which is now placed further back to make sure the connection will only occur when the connector is fully seated. However, this connector will use a different specification which likely mandates a firmware update for GPUs or PSUs should compatibility be maintained in these products.

NVIDIA and PCI-SIG (organization body behind PCI and connector standards) are currently evaluating two options for the final design, though the current draft is said to be in advanced stage and should enter market as early as next year with the new GPU launches, likely as part of NVIDIA’s mid-cycle refresh.

Source: Videocardz

Pokdepinion: Hopefully this would be the end of 12VHPWR saga.