Nvidia already fitting new anti-melty 12V-2x6 power connector to RTX 4070 boards

An Nvidia 12VHPWR adapter included with the RTX 40-series.

(Image credit: Future)

It looks like the not-so-minor matter of melting GPU power connectors is finally being addressed on graphics boards you can actually buy. Igor's Lab has spotted that the new 12V-2x6 power connector that we reported on just two days ago is already being fitted by Nvidia to its RTX 4070 Founders Edition cards. Well, probably.

As Jorge explained earlier, the new 12V-2x6 power connector replaces the problematic 12VHPWR connector while maintaining backward compatibility with existing GPUs. You know, the one where Nvidia initially blamed gamers for not plugging the cable in properly before it become clear that the 12VHPWR spec could do with a little work.

Igor's Lab spotted that Nvidia-made RTX 4070 FEs are indeed already shipping with more recessed pins that seem to conform with the new 12V-2x6 connector definition. However, it's not 100% clear if those cards have the full 12V-2x6 spec or some interim version with similar physical characteristics.

Indeed, in our original report we noted, "the release of the new connector will not occur in the immediate future, as the PCI-SIG has not yet finalized the revised specification." So, some doubt remains over the status of the connector being used by Nvidia here.

More generally, hopefully it won't melt. And if it doesn't we can equally hopefully stop talking about melting power connectors.

Jeremy has been writing about technology and PCs since the 90nm Netburst era (Google it!) and enjoys nothing more than a serious dissertation on the finer points of monitor input lag and overshoot followed by a forensic examination of advanced lithography. Or maybe he just likes machines that go “ping!” He also has a thing for tennis and cars.