Multiple power supplies featuring two 12V-2×6 (aka 12VHPWR 2.0) connectors have some wondering if NVIDIA’s next flagship GPU will require them. While PSUs featuring more than one of the 600W connectors are somewhat rare, they have been popping up more over the last couple of years. Still, they are usually marketed for PCs designed for AI tasks or other systems needing multiple GPUs such as content rendering. Now, following their recent tour of MSI’s factory in Shenzhen, China, Tweaktown has reported on two models featuring dual 12V-2×6 connectors and they were told they were to support next-gen GPUs. It was during their tour that they spotted the MSI MPG A1250 (1250W) and MEG Ai1600T (1600W) power supplies featuring two of the aforementioned connectors.
Per Tweaktown:
- “Interestingly, these new PSUs feature two 12V-2×6 power connectors (the updated 16-pin 12VHPWR that can deliver up to 600W on a single cable). MSI’s reason for the additional connector is to support the next generation of graphics cards.”
- “Credible sources claim that the flagship GeForce RTX 5090 can draw up to 600W, so spreading the load across two connectors would be a more stable solution in a system with multiple components, including a high-power CPU.”
NVIDIA would not be the first to include two of the connectors on one of its graphics cards as GALAX released a HOF RTX 4090 and a HOF RTX 3090 Ti with two of them and a PSU for it back in 2022. Vince Lucido (aka K|NGP|N ) showed off a custom RTX 3090 Ti model, also with two of the 16-pin connectors, made from EVGA right before it stopped producing graphics cards. Although somewhat unlikely, it is a possibility that NVIDIA could move in this direction given that there have already been multiple rumors that the GeForce RTX 5090 will have a TDP in the 600W range.
While a single 12V-2×6 connector, combined with power from the PCIe slot could suffice, having two connectors could lessen the load. Given the past history of the 12VHPWR connector, this might be a good idea. However, most PC builders would be left having to update their PSUs which is something many would not want to do just for the sake of a graphics card that is already expected to have a high price tag.
AI and Video Rendering
As already mentioned, the more likely purpose of these multiple 12V-2×6 connectors is to power multiple GPUs for compute-intensive tasks such as AI, edge computing, or video rendering. In looking at MSI’s 1600W model, AI is actually listed in the model name. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be custom models, or that NVIDIA itself, won’t feature two of the connectors on select GPUs but for now this should be considered simply a speculative rumor. The other rumor, and at this point seemingly more likely considering how many have reported on it over the majority of 2024, is that NVIDIA is expected to announce its next-gen RTX 50 series graphics cards either by the end of the year or Q1 25, quite possibly around CES 2025.
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Discussion (13 replies)
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Double the connectors, double the fireworks
I honestly hope that's just power supply makers getting ahead of the AI compute demand curve coming.
"Grimlakin, post: 89656, member: 215" wrote:I honestly hope that's just power supply makers getting ahead of the AI compute demand curve coming.
I truly feel this is what's happening but I don't know for sure. I could see custom cards with them though since that can be a thing.
I mean maybe for a 5090 Titan with 48gb of vram or something to that effect?
If there is going to be a Titan slotted above the 5090, I wouldn’t be surprised to see 2 connectors. High power 5090s like the old EVGA Kingpin would be another candidate
There were units with two 12VHPWR (the preceding design) connectors as well.
I'd expect these to be targeted more toward workstations with multiple GPUs. A pair would be used for a 4x GPU + Threadripper setup, for example.
Power consumption has gotten totally out of hand in this hobby.
"Niner51, post: 89733, member: 106" wrote:Power consumption has gotten totally out of hand in this hobby.
Whatever it takes to print bigger numbers on the box than the competition.
CPUs oscillate along this same path. They will just keep cranking TDP until they hit a brick wall - then someone will retune for efficiency. That and a couple of process nodes usually busts down the brick wall and we do it all over again.
"Brian_B, post: 89820, member: 96" wrote:Whatever it takes to print bigger numbers on the box than the competition.
CPUs oscillate along this same path. They will just keep cranking TDP until they hit a brick wall - then someone will retune for efficiency. That and a couple of process nodes usually busts down the brick wall and we do it all over again.
True. I just see myself tapping out here in the near future and getting into another hobby. I figure with the 40 series cards connector issue and now Intel issues, the power draw thing is not something these companies really get under control before release. I'm done being a guinea pig for them I guess you could say.
I'm in for one more gen of stuff and maybe one more after that. I like the idea of some kind of AMD 9000 X3D build with a 5090 and feel fairly confident that I'll be able to configure one in a Lian Li A3-mATX. After that, too early to tell, and not even sure if I'll need to update. I'm in my 50s and could easily be in my 60s by the time that theoretical build would need updating.
"Peter_Brosdahl, post: 89829, member: 87" wrote:I'm in my 50s and could easily be in my 60s by the time that theoretical build would need updating.
I'm in the same boat as you probably already know. Games just have been getting less appealing to me as time goes by. The only reason I have the two other rigs in my signature is for when some of my friends come over to play over LAN, and that is only here and there.
My son tinkers with computer hardware more than I do anymore - but he has almost no interest in high performance. He could care less what GPU he has, and is strangely just fine with potato settings on his games. He just likes to tear them apart and put them back together.
"Brian_B, post: 89837, member: 96" wrote:He just likes to tear them apart and put them back together.
I honestly enjoy the build process over the actual use of the PC. I guess it stems from all the plastic models I enjoyed putting together back in the 80's. I'd go back to it, but man those kits are expensive now.
Discussion (13 replies)
Join Discussion →Double the connectors, double the fireworks
I honestly hope that's just power supply makers getting ahead of the AI compute demand curve coming.
I truly feel this is what's happening but I don't know for sure. I could see custom cards with them though since that can be a thing.
I mean maybe for a 5090 Titan with 48gb of vram or something to that effect?
If there is going to be a Titan slotted above the 5090, I wouldn’t be surprised to see 2 connectors. High power 5090s like the old EVGA Kingpin would be another candidate
There were units with two 12VHPWR (the preceding design) connectors as well.
I'd expect these to be targeted more toward workstations with multiple GPUs. A pair would be used for a 4x GPU + Threadripper setup, for example.
Power consumption has gotten totally out of hand in this hobby.
Whatever it takes to print bigger numbers on the box than the competition.
CPUs oscillate along this same path. They will just keep cranking TDP until they hit a brick wall - then someone will retune for efficiency. That and a couple of process nodes usually busts down the brick wall and we do it all over again.
True. I just see myself tapping out here in the near future and getting into another hobby. I figure with the 40 series cards connector issue and now Intel issues, the power draw thing is not something these companies really get under control before release. I'm done being a guinea pig for them I guess you could say.
I'm in for one more gen of stuff and maybe one more after that. I like the idea of some kind of AMD 9000 X3D build with a 5090 and feel fairly confident that I'll be able to configure one in a Lian Li A3-mATX. After that, too early to tell, and not even sure if I'll need to update. I'm in my 50s and could easily be in my 60s by the time that theoretical build would need updating.
I'm in the same boat as you probably already know. Games just have been getting less appealing to me as time goes by. The only reason I have the two other rigs in my signature is for when some of my friends come over to play over LAN, and that is only here and there.
My son tinkers with computer hardware more than I do anymore - but he has almost no interest in high performance. He could care less what GPU he has, and is strangely just fine with potato settings on his games. He just likes to tear them apart and put them back together.
I honestly enjoy the build process over the actual use of the PC. I guess it stems from all the plastic models I enjoyed putting together back in the 80's. I'd go back to it, but man those kits are expensive now.