Some MSI 800-series motherboards could include the addition of an 8-pin power connector capable of delivering up to 150 Watts. The added power combined with that from the PCIe slot would bring total power delivery to 225 Watts. The discovery of the extra power connector was seen at GamesCom by tech media outlet Cowcotland who was given an unofficial statement from MSI reps that the connector is intended for next-gen AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards. The connector is located at the bottom of the board mixed in with the fan, USB, case, and other headers below the 2nd PCIe slot. This would make it somewhat difficult to use with a 2nd graphics card, and if the first is a 3.5 or 4-slot card it too may prevent accessibility to the connector.
Per Cowcotland (machine translated):
- “So, theoretically, we have 225 watts possible via the PCI Express port. MSI indicated that this solution was intended for Next Gen, AMD or NVIDIA cards, we did not have more precision, in order to better distribute the power supply of future graphics cards in order to discharge the 12VHPWR or 12V-2×6 connector.”
MSI Insider delved into more details for the MSI X870E MPG Carbon motherboard showing its M.2 NVME quick-release feature but then also briefly focusing on the new connector. It was mentioned that it could be for next-gen GPUs designed for AI use, which brings up another question. Are AMD and NVIDIA planning AI-specific consumer GPUs within their next round of graphics card releases? If so, this connector might make more sense given it would be odd for NVIDIA’s gaming cards due to its push for the 12VHPWR standard. Is NVIDIA considering abandoning the 12VHPWR connector on some of its lineup? There are obviously pros and cons to such an approach and more questions to be asked, but it’s evident that some MSI 800-series motherboards could include the new connector. VideoCardz also notes that ASUS debuted a similar design with its ROG Crosshair X870E Hero motherboard.
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Discussion (8 replies)
Join Discussion →Having not talked to anyone about it, I have a different guess - it could be to enable 100w PD over USBC/thunderbolt port. We've had other boards with a bonus 6 pin connector for this - I don't remember the PD wattage, but 65w would jive with a 6 pin....
"David_Schroth, post: 88567, member: 1" wrote:Having not talked to anyone about it, I have a different guess - it could be to enable 100w PD over USBC/thunderbolt port. We've had other boards with a bonus 6 pin connector for this - I don't remember the PD wattage, but 65w would jive with a 6 pin....
Yes having a high power output USB c to charge phone and tablets would be nice. S would peer to peer over USBC for file movement could be nice too.
"David_Schroth, post: 88567, member: 1" wrote:Having not talked to anyone about it, I have a different guess - it could be to enable 100w PD over USBC/thunderbolt port. We've had other boards with a bonus 6 pin connector for this - I don't remember the PD wattage, but 65w would jive with a 6 pin....
It's not making any sense to me. The article speculation has it going to the adjacent PCIe slot - which, okay, but you're clearly going way out of the bounds of the PCIe spec, so what, a custom card we think? Which would make sense for Thunderbolt, but since USB4 is being required by AMD, then... what?
The placement by the bottom edge, as opposed to by the front edge near the 24-pin ATX power connector, is a source of confusion. Typically that extra connector adjacent to an internal USB-C header.
Maybe the answer is as dumb as we think it is...
On one hand we have an unofficial statement from MSI via Cowcotland/VideoCardz stating this is intended for GPU.
On the other, as @David_Schroth said there have been 6-pin connectors in the past for USB and this would make a lot more sense given the placement at the bottom of the board. The source article(s) also mention this past solution.
What's the world coming to? Rear connectors for GPUs, 6 and 8 pin for who knows what. Rember the days when the motherboard was used to connect whatever peripherals your PC needed? oh wait . . . ;)
The new Asus Hero board has also an 8 pin near the 24 pin
"Denpepe, post: 88575, member: 284" wrote:The new Asus Hero board has also an 8 pin near the 24 pin
Yep, mentioned in the article.
Unlimited power
I guess it sortof makes sense.
Between the some 144w the 24-pin ATX connector can deliver (at 12v) and the 336w an 8-pin 12v EPS connector can deliver to the motherboard, that is a total of of 480w.
Most motherboards (with CPU, RAM and everything else on board) aren't going to use anywhere near that. Might as well share 150w of it with a GPU to make cabling more flexible, especially since it is rare for all but high end PSU's to have enough connections/cables to support more than two 8-pin GPU connectors and an 8-pin EPS connector at the same time.
Discussion (8 replies)
Join Discussion →Having not talked to anyone about it, I have a different guess - it could be to enable 100w PD over USBC/thunderbolt port. We've had other boards with a bonus 6 pin connector for this - I don't remember the PD wattage, but 65w would jive with a 6 pin....
Yes having a high power output USB c to charge phone and tablets would be nice. S would peer to peer over USBC for file movement could be nice too.
It's not making any sense to me. The article speculation has it going to the adjacent PCIe slot - which, okay, but you're clearly going way out of the bounds of the PCIe spec, so what, a custom card we think? Which would make sense for Thunderbolt, but since USB4 is being required by AMD, then... what?
The placement by the bottom edge, as opposed to by the front edge near the 24-pin ATX power connector, is a source of confusion. Typically that extra connector adjacent to an internal USB-C header.
Maybe the answer is as dumb as we think it is...
On one hand we have an unofficial statement from MSI via Cowcotland/VideoCardz stating this is intended for GPU.
On the other, as @David_Schroth said there have been 6-pin connectors in the past for USB and this would make a lot more sense given the placement at the bottom of the board. The source article(s) also mention this past solution.
What's the world coming to? Rear connectors for GPUs, 6 and 8 pin for who knows what. Rember the days when the motherboard was used to connect whatever peripherals your PC needed? oh wait . . . ;)
The new Asus Hero board has also an 8 pin near the 24 pin
Yep, mentioned in the article.
Unlimited power
I guess it sortof makes sense.
Between the some 144w the 24-pin ATX connector can deliver (at 12v) and the 336w an 8-pin 12v EPS connector can deliver to the motherboard, that is a total of of 480w.
Most motherboards (with CPU, RAM and everything else on board) aren't going to use anywhere near that. Might as well share 150w of it with a GPU to make cabling more flexible, especially since it is rare for all but high end PSU's to have enough connections/cables to support more than two 8-pin GPU connectors and an 8-pin EPS connector at the same time.