Intel shared which pins to use when making 12VHPWR connectors

In the new version number 2.01 specifications February 2023 ATX 3.0 Power Supply Standard, Intel listed the recommended specifications for the 12VHPWR connector. Intel made its recommendations based on many months of testing and verification. Remember that such connectors are used in particular in GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards and problems with them have arisen there.

Image source: Intel

Shortly after the launch of GeForce RTX 40-series graphics cards with the new 12+4-pin 12VHPWR power connector, complaints of this connector melting started to surface. Graphics card manufacturers, including NVIDIA itself, were actively looking for the cause of the incidents while blaming each other, including the graphics card owners themselves, who allegedly misconnected the power connectors to the graphics card.

Image source: Igor’sLAB

Independent research shows that NVIDIA uses different pins in its 12VHPWR connectors, manufactured by Taiwanese companies Astron and NTK. These contacts have different latches. NTK connectors require more force to connect and therefore provide more reliable contact between the plug and the power receptacle. In addition, connectors use contacts of different designs. NTK’s 12VHPWR connector uses spring-loaded contacts with a single slot, while the Astron connector has slots on both sides. In the second case, the contact is worse.

Image source: Igor’sLAB

There are no graphics cards in the Intel range that would come with the new 12VHPWR power connector. However, the connector itself is included in the specifications of the ATX 3.0 standard adopted by Intel, so to some extent everyone also expected comments from him.

Image source: Intel

“For crimp contacts in the cable connector, it is recommended to use a 4-prong design (like NTK – ed.) rather than a 3-pocket design (like Astron – ed.) as shown in the image above . This increases the contact area for electrical current flow within the 12VHWPR connector and reduces the temperature rise rate of each contact.”– states Intel in the new ATX 3.0 specifications.