PCI Express Gen5 High Power Connector up to 600W

IIIIIIIIII · October 10, 2021

Source #1/#2

Earlier this week we shared a published an article about the upcoming flagship GeForce RTX 3090 Ti graphics card, which is now set to launch in January. The graphics card is supposedly the first card to feature a PCIe Gen5 power connector, a new standard that will ultimately solve one of the biggest drawbacks of the current 8-pin power connector, an insufficient power it can provide (up to 150W).

PCI-SIG 12VHPWR H+ Power Connector, Source: Igor’sLAB

Igor Wallossek from Igor’sLAB managed to obtain the schematics and the information on the new connector, confirming that there is indeed a new standard coming, possibly to all new graphics cards in 2022.

Just as we said, the power connector has 16 lanes in total (12 power and 4 signal lanes), but it’s not a MicroFit Molex standard, but something entirely new. The standard defined as has smaller spacing than existing connectors, a change from 4.2 mm to 3.0 mm. The connector has a width of 18.85 mm, so it is not exactly small, but much smaller than dual or triple 8-pin connector configuration. This will greatly simplify the circuit and PCB design process, not to mention all the space that will be saved.

The PCI-SIG specs define that each pin can sustain up to 9.2A, which means a total of 55.2 A at 12V. This gives a maximum power of 662W, but the specs officially go up to 600W, Igor notes. Along with twelve pins for power, there are additional 4 signal lanes right underneath the connector. At this moment it is unclear what is their purpose or whether they are required or optional.

Amphenol ICC Minitek PWR CEM-5 PCIe

Some manufacturers, such as Amphenol, have already begun listing the specs of the 12VHPWR connector:

Amphenol ICC introduces the Gen 5, Minitek® Pwr PCIe® connector system. This new introduction CEM 5.0 PCI Express® 12VHPWR auxiliary hybrid connector and cable assembly support the 600W GPU cards. The 12VHPWR connector is not designed to mate with legacy PCI Express® 2×3 and 2×4 12V Auxiliary Power connectors. The 12VHPWR connector power pins have a 3.00mm pitch, while the contacts in a legacy 2×3 and 2×4 connector lie on a larger 4.20mm pitch. New PCIe® Connector System (CEM5) is designed for power applications with current rating upto 9.5A/pin (12 pins energized) and the 4 signal pins supporting signal transmission.

Rated current up to 9.5A per contact with all 12 power contacts and 4 Signal contacts

Fully isolated terminals

Positive locking on housing with low thumb latch operation

Low level contact resistance: 6mΩ max.

What this also means is that NVIDIA’s 12-pin power connector will end up just like Virtual Link, no one will use it anymore and it will eventually be phased out. The first card to feature this connector is likely the rumored GeForce RTX 3090 Ti. So far no other card has been rumored to offer this standard.

FRD · October 10, 2021

It's strange that they call this PCIe Gen 5, even though it doesn't just have transfer data, mostly power. I'm not sure how many Gbps it is, but like said the Nvidia 12-pin also wasn't successful. It's better if we end up with 3 or 4 power connectors for a GPU than a new standard in my opinion.

October 10, 2021

10 hours ago, IIIIIIIIII said:

in total (12 power and 4 signal lanes), but it’s not a MicroFit Molex standard, but something entirely new.

What this also means is that NVIDIA’s 12-pin power connector will end up just like Virtual Link, no one will use it anymore and it will eventually be phased out. The first card to feature this connector is likely the rumored GeForce RTX 3090 Ti. So far no other card has been rumored to offer this standard.

I don't know why Igor does this. He's so disruptive sometimes. Like when he said there was a "united front against ATX12VO" (bullshit).

This connector isn't "entirely new" and the 12-pin connector will not end up "just like Virtual Link".

FACT: The 12-pin portion of the 12+4 pin is EXACTLY the same as the current 12-pin used on FE cards.

FACT: While the new Nvidia cards will use this new 12+4-pin, they will not require the +4 portion. The current 12-pin used on the FE card will work as well.

And while the new spec "allows for" up to 600W cards, the existence of it does not imply that the next gen cards WILL BE 600W. IF the card is 600W, the card manufacturer may or may not use one of the +4 pins as a sense wire to make sure a "correct connector" is in play.

It's funny because Igor published the original Astron 12-pin drawings when those "leaked", but didn't bother to put the two drawings (the 12-pin and the 12+4-pin) side by side to see that the shape of the connector, the terminal size, the power rating, etc. are all the same.