AMD is NOT using PCIe 5.0 '12VHPWR' connector on Radeon RX 7000 series GPUs
AMD confirms it will NOT be using the explosive new PCIe Gen5 '12VHPWR' power connector on its upcoming Radeon RX 7000 series 'RDNA 3' graphics cards.
AMD has confirmed that its next-gen Radeon RX 7000 series "RDNA 3" graphics card will NOT be using the new PCIe Gen5 "12VHPWR" power connector... which is something we kinda knew already, but now 100% confirmed from AMD themselves.
Scott Herkelman, General Manager for AMD Radeon (and ex-NVIDIA GeForce exec) confirmed on Twitter with Kyle "HardOCP" Bennett, where he said that the Radeon RX 6000 series and upcoming RDNA 3 GPUs will "not use this power connector".
Given that there are multiple reports of GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards MELTING, it makes sense that AMD won't use the power connector. We've known for a while now that AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 7000 series flagship GPU will be using 2 x 8-pin PCIe power connectors, but now we have official confirmation from AMD themselves.
Bennett said he's reached out to multiple sources to confirm that AMD's in-house Navi 31-based reference cards will NOT use the new 12VHPWR power adapter. Bennett adds that he couldn't verify that AIBs would be using the new 12VHPWR on Navi 31-based designs, either. It looks like AMD will be skipping it, but again, I think we knew that based on previous rumors and reports on Navi 31.
- Read more: AMD rumored to launch Radeon RX 7900 XTX with RX 7900 XT on November 3
- Read more: Multiple GeForce RTX 4090 cards DEAD, melted 16-pin power connectors!
- Read more: PCI-SIG worried: possible thermal variance with PCIe 5.0 power cables
- Read more: NVIDIA's monster TITAN Ada cancelled: dual 16-pin power, melted PSUs
We heard that AIB partners would be clocking the Navi 31 GPU "to the moon" on custom Radeon RX 7900 XTX or Radeon RX 7900 XT graphics cards, where we could see 3 x 8-pin PCIe power connectors using up to 450W. The newer 12VHPWR power connector looks sleek, and sure it can feed 600W+ of power, but we now know at what cost... melting GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards.
- Read more: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT: AIBs are going to 'clock Navi 31 to the moon'
- Read more: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT PCB layout: Navi 31 GPU, 7 chiplets, up to 450W
- Read more: This is what AMD's next-gen RDNA 3-based Radeon RX 7900 XT looks like
AMD is expected to use the PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, but not the PCIe Gen5 "12VHPWR" power connector... makes sense. The reference Radeon RX 7900 XTX (and/or the Radeon RX 7900 XT) should ship with 2 x 8-pin PCIe power connectors with a triple-fan cooler... it looks mean, and it could give NVIDIA's new flagship GeForce RTX 4090 (and also benefit from not exploding, catching fire, or melting).