Intel updates power spec over melting 12VHPWR plugs, but existing PSUs are fine

&xcust=2-1-1660311-1-0-0&sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" data-type="URL" data-id="
" target="_blank">Stephen Burke of Gamers Nexus. Nvidia later concurred and said the 50 reports of damaged connectors it received, all likely were the result of failure power cables that weren’t fully inserted. Many of the pictures of melted cables posted on Reddit and Twitter also showed melt lines indicative of a cable that had backed out or had not been inserted fully.
12VHWPR Connections

Intel is recommending PSU vendors use 4 spring connectors instead of dimple-type connectors for 12VHPWR connectors.

Intel

Despite installation likely being the cause of the problems, there Intel’s update indicates room for improvement to the connector—but not enough to mandate it. The new ATX 3.01 spec, in fact, “recommends” the four spring connection but does not require them, which means a power supply vendor can continue to manufacture and sell units with the dimpled connectors.

Eastman said in indication of how minor this update to the spec is, he doesn’t think PSU vendors will bother to note it on boxes and Intel’s own test procedures on PSUs won’t even change for it.

So why even bother to update the spec if the older one is fine?

Eastman said publishing it as part of the spec helps “to make sure PSU vendors know there are options—it has worked as some PSU vendors have started to explore all the options.”

The update for the 12VHPWR itself is part of other tweaks to the spec to clean up language and make changes such as no longer requiring that a power supply vendor put the wattage of a 12VHWPR on the cable itself. That change was made due to fully modular cables where a cable might be used in different models power supplies so labeling would be used on the PSU body rather than the cable.

the rtx 4090 uses a 12vhpwr connector

GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition

GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition

And despite some thinking the spec means a new connector, Eastman stresses that it is not a new connector at all.

“This shows some options that PSU vendors can look at for options as they design PSUs with 12VHPWR connectors,” he said.

The updated spec also appears to bring the ATX spec in line with the PCI-SIG’s spec change introduced in January. The PCI-SIG engineering change notice introduced two different 12VHWPR connectors for use.

Despite Intel’s public presence with the ATX spec and its introduction of 12VHPWR, the company doesn’t own the spec.

“We understand that PCI-SIG documents are not as readily available to the public and the ATX spec is the default Public document,” Eastman said. “But Intel did not create, define, or own the 12VHPWR connector. Intel is one of many members that make up the PCI-SIG that created, defined, and owns the 12VHPWR connector.”

https://www.pcworld.com/article/1660311/dont-worry-you-dont-have-to-switch-out-your-current-psu-or-connector.html

Created 2y | Mar 16, 2023, 2:20:38 PM


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