Simplifying 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe5 Connector and Why you need it?
Recently we have started seeing graphic cards from Nvidia with 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe power connector and last week we also reviewed MSI’s MPG A1000G PCIE5 Power supply with 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe connector, which generated lots of questions as feedback from our viewers asking in general about what and why 16 PIN PCIe connector?
It seems there is some confusing and fear in the PC community about 16 PIN PCIe5 power connector, so with this article I will try to simplify what is 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe5 Connector and why you need it?
If you're building or upgrading a gaming PC with latest Nvidia graphic card, you may have come across our internet and social media about the term "16 PIN PCIe connector" and fearful stories about its failures.
So why 16 PIN PCIe connector not the regular 6-pin and an 8-pin PCIe power connector, and what benefits does it offer over other types of connectors?
To understand why the 16 PIN PCIe connector is needed, we first need to look at the power requirements of modern graphics cards. As modern graphics cards have become increasingly power-hungry, and requires more and more power to run at full performance, with some models requiring as much as 600 watts or more.
However, providing this much power to a graphics card can be challenging with traditional 6-pin or 8-pin PCIe power connectors as these connectors can provide up to 75 watts and 150 watts of power each.
To meet this power requirements of modern high-end graphics cards, a new type of power connector called the 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe connector has been developed by Intel along with its new ATX 3.0 specification.
The 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe connector is specifically designed for high-power PCIe graphics cards. It provides a stable and efficient source of power, ensuring that the graphics card can operate at maximum performance without crashing or malfunctioning.
Power supply like MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 Power supply, provides a dedicated power source for the graphics card using the native 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe connector. Without this connector, a modern graphics card may not receive enough power, which can result in poor performance, system instability, or even damage to the card or other components.
MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 Power supply bundles a flexible triple-layer sleeved 16 PIN to 16 PIN PCIe cables that reduces the number of wires in the cable needed to power a graphics card. Some graphics cards required multiple 6-pin or 8-pin connectors, which meant running multiple cables from the power supply to the card. This could be cumbersome and messy, especially in small cases. With the 16 PIN PCIe connector, only one cable is needed, which can simplify cable management and improve airflow inside the case.
Another benefit of the 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe connector is that it allows for more efficient power delivery. Because it provides more power with thick high current wires using more pins close to each other in a compact plug connector, it can deliver power more efficiently to the graphics card, reducing wasted energy and improving overall system performance.
In our testing with MSI’s MPG A1000G PCIE5 Power, we found that a single 12VHPWR off this power supply was able to provide stable and clean 600 watts of continues power to our load tester.
Overall, the 16 PIN PCIe connector is an important development in the world of computer hardware, as it allows graphics cards to run at full performance without the risk of power overload or instability.
So just get a good PC Power supply that is compliant with PCIe 5.0 and Intel ATX 3.0 specification like:
According to your power needs and enjoy your high-end gaming PC and workstation builds with peace of mind.
Read more about MSI ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 ready PSUs at https://in.msi.com/Landing/first-power-supply-unit-for-atx-3-pcie-5 .
Thanks.