An Intel replace to the ATX energy provide spec doesn’t imply your present 12VHPWR adapter or PSU is out of date or harmful. The ATX 3.01 replace, printed final month by Intel, recommends that PSU distributors constructing 12VHPWR connectors use “spring” connections slightly than “dimple” connections.
“Crimp Contacts inside of the cable plug are recommended to use the 4 Spring design instead of 3 dimple design (as shown in below figure) which will increase the contact area for electrical current flow inside the 12VHPWR connector and reduce the temperature rise of each contact,” the up to date ATX 3.01 spec reads.
Studying between the traces of it, it’s clear one is best, however does that imply current dimple connectors have to be changed?
“No,” Intel Platform Energy Specialist Stephen Eastman informed PCWorld. “Using an existing 12VHPWR connector can work well when implemented and installed correctly.”
Eastman really useful that individuals view Nvidia’s web site publish on correctly inserting a 12HVPWR energy connector right into a GPU.
“The new four spring design does have extra reliability benefits, but that does not mean the existing three dimple design is bad,” Eastman stated. Intel determined to undertake the advice after connection distributors shared data displaying the four-spring design to supply extra floor contact, decrease temperatures in addition to higher sturdiness.
The world wouldn’t be so targeted on tiny metallic connections within an influence connector apart from the five-alarm fireplace of concern final 12 months after dozens of 12VHPWR cables began to soften, typically damaging the $1,500 graphics playing cards they have been powering. At one level, consideration targeted on the kind of connections after a report by Igorslab.de stated the spring clips gave the impression to be superior to the dimple clips.
After weeks of hand-wringing and hypothesis although, the reason for these melted cables seemingly traced again to the cables both backing out or not being absolutely inserted, in accordance with an investigation by Stephen Burke of Avid gamers Nexus. Nvidia later concurred and stated of the 50 reviews of broken connectors it acquired, all seemingly have been the results of energy cables that weren’t absolutely inserted. Lots of the footage of melted cables posted on Reddit and Twitter additionally confirmed soften traces indicative of a cable that had backed out or had not been inserted absolutely.
Intel is recommending PSU distributors use 4 spring connectors as a substitute of dimple-type connectors for 12VHPWR connectors.
Intel
Regardless of set up seemingly being the reason for the issues, Intel’s replace signifies room for enchancment to the connector—however not sufficient to mandate it. The brand new ATX 3.01 spec, in truth, “recommends” the 4 spring connection however doesn’t require them, which suggests an influence provide vendor can proceed to fabricate and promote models with the dimpled connectors.
Eastman stated in indication of how minor this replace to the spec is, he doesn’t assume PSU distributors will hassle to notice it on containers and Intel’s personal check procedures on PSUs received’t even change for it.
So why even hassle to replace the spec if the older one is okay?
Eastman stated publishing it as a part of the spec helps “to make sure PSU vendors know there are options—it has worked as some PSU vendors have started to explore all the options.”
The replace for the 12VHPWR itself is a part of different tweaks to the spec to wash up language and make modifications reminiscent of not requiring {that a} energy provide vendor put the wattage of a 12VHWPR on the cable itself. That change was made because of absolutely modular cables the place a cable is likely to be utilized in totally different fashions energy provides so labeling could be used on the PSU physique slightly than the cable.
And regardless of some considering the spec means a brand new connector, Eastman stresses that it isn’t a brand new connector in any respect.
“This shows some options that PSU vendors can look at for options as they design PSUs with 12VHPWR connectors,” he stated.
The up to date spec additionally seems to convey the ATX spec according to the PCI-SIG’s spec change launched in January. The PCI-SIG engineering change discover launched two totally different 12VHWPR connectors to be used.
Regardless of Intel’s public presence with the ATX spec and its introduction of 12VHPWR, the corporate doesn’t personal the spec.
“We understand that PCI-SIG documents are not as readily available to the public and the ATX spec is the default Public document,” Eastman stated. “But Intel did not create, define, or own the 12VHPWR connector. Intel is one of many members that make up the PCI-SIG that created, defined, and owns the 12VHPWR connector.”
