ATX 3.0: a new design to stop the sockets of our graphics cards from melting

Intel is working on a new design of the ATX 3.0 format to prevent the taking of a certain generation of graphics cards to melt.

The case of the 12VHPWR connector present on the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 models from NVIDIA has caused a lot of ink to flow, and Intel is finally coming up with a solution to potentially avoid any disappointment.

A more or less express reaction

Even though it turned out after a thorough investigation that a large part of the cases of melting of the 16-pin connector were due to human error, Intel prefers prevention rather than cure. The manufacturer thus intends to review its copy for the specifications of the ATX 3.0 format present on the Gen 5.0 platform.

A recommendation was thus made to change the design of the controversial 12VHPWR connector, in particular motivated by the research ofIgor’s Lab on the subject. Currently, the connector displays three cells, and Intel recommends swapping this for four springs, as shown in the image below.

It has thus been established that the second design makes it possible to increase the contact area for the current to pass through the connector while reducing the temperature rise generated by each contact.

Caution in use is required

This recommendation from Intel should therefore further reduce the cases of melting of the massive connector adopted by NVIDIA to supply its latest monsters of power (and price) to the ogre’s appetite. Some have not waited for such surveys to offer alternatives that are more resistant and easy to install.

It should indeed be remembered that in many cases, the melting had its source elsewhere than in the design of the connector. The fault was thus often attributed to a lack of space in the tower or to the fact that the connector was not correctly connected.

Still, a harmonization of the design and a better awareness of the users should come to limit the breakage. If we accept to run the risk, given the price applied to the RTX 4000 graphics card models using this connector.

Source : Intel