Nvidia “Ampere” can be powered with power over 12 contact pins

Nvidia’s upcoming Geforce RTX 3000 series based on the architecture “Ampere” does not suffer from a lack of rumors and leaks. Previous reports indicate, among other things, a different cooling solution and a separate printed circuit board for power supply. Information is now emerging that graphics cards of reference design built around the printed circuit board with the internal code name PG142 may have a completely new power connector.

This is a connector with a total of 12 pins in the same physical size as a traditional 6 + 2-pin solution of PCI Express format, according to the Chinese site Fcpowerup. The new connector type is rumored to offer up to 8.5 amps per conductive pin, while the PCI Express standard 6-pin connector allows a total of 6.25 amps or 75 watts, even though the connector can handle 6 amps per pin.

By deviating from PCI Express and its relatively conservative power supply, Nvidia can thus theoretically deliver up to 34 amps, or 408 watts, over four conductors and four ground cables while leaving room for sensecabling. Counting instead on three conductors, the power lands at 25.5 amps or 306 watts.

Exactly how this is intended to be connected to existing power supplies is unclear, but one candidate is an adapter cable for dual 6 + 2-pin connections. Such a solution would offer 300 watts from the power supply, while the motherboard delivers 75 watts – something that would satisfy the top cards’ rumored power consumption of 350 watts.

However, another variable is to be taken into account, namely the rumors about the printed circuit board PG142 and its 4-pin connector. With a new 12-pin connector that deviates from PCI Express specifications, it appears redundant for power supply purposes, which Fcpowerup also comments with the words “unclear if it is even a power connector”. Tweaktown also says it is uncertain about the purpose of the contact.

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