AMD Will Not Require 12V-2×6 Power Connectors for Radeon RX 9070 Series GPUs

It appears that AMD’s upcoming Radeon RX 9070 GPUs may not incorporate the 12V-2×6 power connector as a standard feature. Instead, Add-In Board (AIB) partners will have the flexibility to implement this connector in their customized versions of the graphics cards.

Radeon RX 9000 Series GPUs to Rely on Traditional Power Connectors

The anticipated RDNA 4 series will predominantly utilize 8-pin PCI-E power connectors for its RX 9070 GPUs, which includes both the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 models. This information comes from a report by Benchlife, indicating that AMD has not made the 12V-2×6 connector a compulsory requirement for the Radeon RX 9000 GPU lineup.

Typically, the 12V-2×6 connector is associated with high-performance graphics cards that demand greater power. Despite the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 being positioned as the flagship offerings of the RDNA 4 lineup, AMD has left the decision to use the 12V-2×6 connector to the discretion of AIBs, allowing them the freedom to choose their power connector specifications for these GPUs.

As per the latest insights, the Radeon RX 9070 XT is expected to be the leading GPU in this series, with a default Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 260W. Custom designs by board partners could exceed 300W, which necessitates the use of at least two 8-pin PCI-E connectors. The motherboard’s PCI-E slot can provide 75W, and each 8-pin PCI-E connector can handle up to 150W, which together totals 225W. To meet the higher power demands of 300W or more for custom editions, the additional 8-pin connectors become essential.

AIBs do have the option to implement the more recent 12V-2×6 connector, which is capable of delivering up to 600W of power. Interestingly, even lower TDP graphics cards, such as the GeForce RTX 4070 with a TDP of 200W, are equipped with this connector. The 12V-2×6 standard has been introduced as an improved version of the 12VHPWR connector, designed to mitigate issues such as melting and enhance the reliability of connections between the graphics card and power supply.

Considering that 8-pin PCI-E connectors are more commonly found across various power supply units compared to the newer 12V-2×6, it’s probable that most manufacturers will lean towards the traditional 8-pin connectors for their GPU models. However, flagship designs may incorporate the 12V-2×6 connections. The official unveiling of the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 is anticipated during CES 2025, promising further insights into AMD’s strategic approach for these new GPUs.

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