12V2x6 Connector: Do You Need To Change Your 12VHPWR PSU

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Arsalan Shakil

As a Hardware Expert at Tech4Gamers, I bring my decade-long expertise in electronics design, embedded solutions, and prototyping. My knack for exposing misconceptions in the tech world finds a perfect outlet here.

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Nvidia introduced a new way of powering their graphics cards with the launch of the 40 series lineup. It claimed to be a step forward as it could deliver double the power of an old PCIe power connector. However, things didn’t go too well and the new power cables became a new controversy. 

But we already have a new replacement named 12V2x6, which is a successor to the old 12VHPWR. Whether it really a true successor or not, only time will tell, for now, we can discuss its differences.

Why A Quick Revision

With graphics cards going power-hungry each generation, they came to a point where the conventional 8-pin PCIe connectors were insufficient. So, Nvidia introduced the new 12VHPWR connector that was capable of delivering 600W while being a single connector on the GPU side. The solution was quite thoughtful, but it backfired quickly due to poor implementation. 

Soon after getting into the hands of the consumers, reports emerged all over the internet that the new connectors weren’t as robust as they should have been. And are rather melting down, resulting in damaging the graphics card as well as the connector itself. To address the situation, many aftermarket connectors were launched to tackle the situation. However, the risk remained there as is. This is why a revision was much needed to fix the flaws for good.

The 12V2x6 Connector

The all-new 12V2x6 connector is a revision to the not-so-old 12VHPWR connector that made quite a show all around when it first launched. This new 16-pin connector mitigates the flaws of the previous power connector. The new connector also incorporates new measurements for the sensing pins as well as the power terminals. If we go into the details, the sensing pins are now 1.5 mm shorter while the power terminals are extended by around 0.25 mm.   

What this does is that when the sensing pins are not in full contact, the power on the pins would be zero watts. This was not the case with the old 12VHPWR connector. Moreover, the new connector can also maintain safe temperatures even when it is not properly plugged into the graphics card. This can be seen in the testing done by Hardware Busters, as the temperature stayed well under 50C even during peak power draw.

All these additions help it become a more reliable way of powering GPUs, as opposed to the old 12VHPWR connector. 

Compatibility Concerns

For example, the 12VHPWR connector isn’t compatible with older power supplies, so it could be assumed that the new revision might require a new power supply as well. However, it’s quite the opposite here because the 12V2x6 connector is backward compatible with power supplies that originally featured the 12VHPWR connector right out of the box. 

So, it is safe to say that you do not have to update your whole power supply immediately. You can deal with the majority risk by simply swapping the 12VHPWR connector with the 12V2x6 one if you do not have plans to upgrade to the upcoming flagship graphics card.

A Step In The Right Direction

The newest standard is already being implemented by the graphics cards and power supply manufacturers in their current as well as upcoming product lineups. Fortunately, though, it doesn’t require a full power supply change too, which is a relief for many as they can be quite expensive on the higher-end side. 

Now, that the new power standard has matured enough, and the serious concerns are addressed, we might see AMD moving over to this new standard as well. As previously, they dropped the idea because of the risks involved and chose to wait to be sure about everything.

Arsalan Shakil

[Errors Troubleshooting Expert]

Arsalan Shakil (aka GuyThatDoesEverything on YouTube) is a PC Tech Enthusiast and Electronic Geek. With over 10+ years of experience in Electronics, he then decided to explore Software Engineering to design embedded products and automate existing hardware solutions. 

When he started tearing down old cameras to understand how they worked, he was shocked (literally, when he got zapped by a flash discharge capacitor), giving him the power (debatable) to fall in love with videography/photography. He also started making some fun videos that later became YouTube tech reviews.

Skills:

• 10+ years of experience in Electronics design, embedded solutions, and prototyping
• Majored in Software Engineering
• Research paper publication in IEEE for Embedded Military Uniform & LoRa WAN wireless technology
• Specialized in IoT Solutions
• PC Enthusiast & PC Modder

In his local region, he’s known to expose cheap PSU brands, often claiming fake certification or false claims on the box. He’s a true nerd and needed some friends in his life. Then he met some guys who work at Tech4Gamers, and they also came out to be equal nerds who suggested he join Tech4Gamers as a Hardware Expert.