In recent years, the 12VHPWR graphics card connector has gained notoriety for its tendency to melt and cause damage to GPUs. However, it seems that graphics card manufacturers may have finally found a solution to this issue. They have been testing a new replacement connector, known as the 12V-2×6, which not only delivers more power, but is also much safer than its predecessor.
The design of the 12V-2×6 connector closely resembles that of the 12VHPWR, but with one crucial difference. It has the ability to deliver additional power through the GPU’s PCIe slot, allowing for a higher power draw. Testing conducted by YouTube channel Hardware Busters has demonstrated that the new connector can handle power loads of up to 675W without any problems.
One notable observation made during the testing process was that the 12V-2×6 connector remained cool, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 40-50 degrees Celsius. This falls well within the safe range and is unlikely to cause the connector to melt. Even when subjected to a peak power draw of 640W, the connector performed admirably.
Interestingly, the 12V-2×6 connector was able to maintain its effectiveness even when not inserted properly. This may be due to the shorter sense pins compared to the 12VHPWR, which detect when the connector is not fully inserted and limit the power delivery to the GPU. As a result, the connector did not overheat and cause damage.
In contrast, the 12VHPWR connectors often reached temperatures of 150 degrees Celsius, resulting in melting and serious damage to users’ graphics cards. The difference between the two connectors is truly significant.
The promising performance of the 12V-2×6 connector has led to speculation about its widespread adoption in the industry. Nvidia has already started implementing the connector in its RTX 4090 cards, which were previously vulnerable to melting with the 12VHPWR connector. AMD may also consider adding the 12V-2×6 connector to its future GPUs as a replacement for the problematic 12VHPWR connector.
It’s evident that the days of the 12VHPWR connector are numbered. After the countless fires, damaged GPUs, and attempts to address the issue, it’s unlikely that many will lament its departure.
