Intel and AMD may be testing 12V-2x6 power cables for future GPUs

In brief: Despite some initial controversy, Nvidia has forged ahead with new 12V GPU power connectors while AMD and Intel have stuck with reliable traditional designs. Although Nvidia's competitors are rumored to be testing the latest format, their upcoming products likely give them little reason to make the jump.

Sources have informed Hungarian outlet Prohardver that AMD and Intel have begun testing 12V-2x6 power cables for their upcoming graphics cards. Market leader Nvidia already uses the standard across its latest and upcoming products, but its competitors may still harbor reliability concerns.

The 12V-2x6 format emerged last year to replace 12VHPWR, which Nvidia infamously implemented in its flagship RTX 4090. Many 4090 owners complained that their power cables burned and melted after extended usage.

The company blamed user error and improperly connected cables, but some reports disputed the claims. As of late last year, hundreds of 4090s per month required repairs.

Meanwhile, no such controversy has emerged for 12V-2x6, which can deliver higher wattages than 12VHPWR. Third-party tests show the new format is safe, even when cables are partially dislodged. Nvidia switched its RTX 4000 series GPUs to 12V-2x6, and the upcoming RTX 5000 lineup will also use the new format.

However, AMD's Radeon RX 7000 series and Intel's Arc Alchemist cards use older eight-pin formats, which haven't suffered widespread meltdowns. Still, reports of 12V-2x6 testing aren't surprising, as AMD admitted that it briefly considered using 12V for the RX 7000.

According to Prohardver, 12V-2x6 proved far safer than 12VHPWR in the recent tests, but the older standard remains the most reliable at power levels below 300W. If the information is accurate, the results could discourage AMD and Intel from adopting 12V for the time being because the upcoming RDNA 4 (presumably RX 8000) and Arc Battlemage lines will only include mid-range and mainstream GPUs, which will likely draw under 300W.

For comparison, Nvidia's upcoming flagship RTX 5090 is expected to have a 600W TBP (though average wattage might be lower), with the 5080 drawing 400W. Meanwhile, the mid-range 5070 – the most likely competitor to RDNA 4 and Battlemage – needs only 250W.

Still, power supply manufacturers might force a general shift to 12V-2x6 if they abandon older standards. Moreover, board partners might offer 12V-2x6 variants of AMD and Intel cards.

Nvidia is expected to introduce the RTX 5090 and 5080 at CES 2025 in January. RDNA 4 and Battlemage might appear at the same event. The 5070 is rumored to debut in February and the 5060 might launch in March.