16-Pin 12vHPWR connector

The 16-Pin 12vHPWR connector is a modern standard for connecting graphics processing units (GPUs) to power supplies. It was introduced in the early 2020s to supersede the previous 6- and 8-pin power connectors for GPUs. The primary aim was to cater to the increasing power requirements of contemporary high-performance GPUs, ensuring reliable power delivery and increasing performance.

12VHPWR connector

Overview

The 16-Pin 12vHPWR connector, where HPWR stands for "High Power," supports higher power delivery to GPUs, up to 600 watts, a significant increase from the 150 watts of the 8-pin connector and the 75 watts of the 6-pin connector.[1][2]

The 16-pin connector is designed to be backwards compatible, meaning that it can work with older 6-pin and 8-pin cables using an adapter.[3]

The 16-pin connector comprises twelve power pins arranged in two parallel rows, and four auxiliary sense pins that communicate the maximum allowable power draw. This configuration allows for more efficient power delivery and enhanced stability under load, especially for graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming, rendering, and machine learning computations.[1]

Adoption
6/8-pin to 12VHPWR adapter

Upon introduction, the 16-pin 12vHPWR connector was met with mixed reactions due to the need for newer, more capable power supplies or adapters. However, the connector was soon adopted by leading GPU manufacturers, acknowledging the increasing power demands of advanced GPUs. Many high-end gaming and professional-grade GPUs now utilize the 16-pin power connector to tap into the performance capabilities these units can offer.[4]

Asus Strix RTX 4090 using 12vHPWR connector with an adapter

The 16-pin 12vHPWR connector has been instrumental in enabling the development of more powerful GPUs, giving rise to a new era of high-performance computing, gaming, and data processing. It has opened up new possibilities for GPU-accelerated applications, such as machine learning and AI, that require heavy computational power.[5]

As more power-hungry GPUs continue to emerge, it's expected that the 16-pin connector standard will gain wider acceptance. The connector's design and function will likely continue to evolve to cater to even higher power demands and improved efficiency in the future.[6]

It was also reported that new connector has a limited lifespan with around 30-40 reconnection cycles before rendering inoperable.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Let's talk about the 12VHPWR connector..." jongerow.com. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  2. "Seasonic 12VHPWR Cable". seasonic.com. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  3. "PCIe Gen5 "12VHPWR" power connector to feature 150W, 300W, 450W and 600W settings". VideoCardz.com. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  4. "Simplifying 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe5 Connector and Why you need it? - PC TeK REVIEWS". pctekreviews.com. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  5. crmaris (2022-10-31). "12VHPWR Connector/Cable: PSU's Size (Watt) Does Matter!". Hardware Busters. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  6. Sandhu, Tarinder (2023-03-28). "ATX 3.0 PSUs explained: why 12VHPWR is the best way to power Nvidia RTX 40 Series GPUs". Club386. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  7. NHU9B (2022-09-23). "12VHPWR: an adapter that turns out to be a consumable?". Overclocking.com. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
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