HardwarePower SuppliesMSI’s new top-end PSU boasts two 12V-2x6 sockets for twin GPUs, or just one really, really big oneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwarePower SuppliesMSI’s new top-end PSU boasts two 12V-2x6 sockets for twin GPUs, or just one really, really big oneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future)
I was recently over in China, visiting MSI’s factory where it makes motherboards, graphics cards, monitors, etc, and at the event, the company launched several new products. One of which was its MEG AI1600T power supply unit, replete with RGB lighting, a host of high-end features, and oh yes—two12V-2x6 sockets for Nvidia graphics cards.
The days of multi-GPU setups (akaSLIandCrossFire) are long dead and given that MSI specifically notes that the AI1600T is “ready for AI computing usage”, it’s clear that this PSU is aimed directly at folks wanting to do a spot of homebrew AI stuff. But a few of us at the event got to talking about how it could be for something else.
In passing, one of MSI’s engineers had said that its new PSUs were all ready for the next generation of graphics cards and that obviously refers to Nvidia’sRTX 50-series, as they’re the ones that seem next in line to appear (AMD’sRDNA 4series look likely to launch much later on).
The12V-2x6socket is an updated version of the somewhat infamous12VHPWRsocket that Nvidia first introduced in some of its RTX 30 models, e.g. the GeForce RTX 3090. Designed in conjunction with the PCI-SIG, the connector is rated to a heady 600 W of power but as someRTX 4090owners found, shoddily made cables (or even good ones that just weren’t fully seated) meant the design wasprone to melting.
So that got us thinking. What if the RTX 5090 has a much higher TGP than the RTX 4090? Rather than being a 450 W card, what if it’s 550 or even 600 W? While the 12V-2x6 design is supposed to prevent another episode of Meltgate, what if Nvidia was concerned about the reputation of the previous design, and thought that it would come across as being a much safer system having all that power spread over two connectors?
Using two cables would mean each one could be kept well under its rated power/current limit and help prevent too much heat develop in one small area on the circuit board.
The obvious issue with this idea is that how many potential RTX 5090 buyers have a PSU with two 12VHPWR/12V-2x6 sockets? I can’t see Nvidia selling a card thatrequiresone to buy a new PSU but then again, it’d be one hell of a marketing thing.
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I don’t think the RTX 5090 will be as power-hungry as that, though, and I really think that the two 12V-2x6 power sockets on the AI1600T PSU are just for multi-GPU setups handling AI workloads.
That honour goes to AMD’sRadeon R9 290X2and 390X2, both of which were twin GPU cards with 580 W power limits. There are plenty of other cards with even higher power limits but they’re all for workstations and whatnot.
Your next upgrade(Image credit: Future)Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.
Your next upgrade
(Image credit: Future)Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.
(Image credit: Future)
Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.
A single 12V-2x6 cable would, in theory, be sufficient for either of those AMD cards and, as far as I can tell, any GPU that’s heading our PC gaming way in the foreseeable future.
WithAMD bailing out of the ultra-high-end market, there’s nothing to stop Nvidia from making its halo model utterly ludicrous in terms of size and power.
And even though the lack of competition will mean there’s nothing to keep prices in check, there will be no shortage of PC gamers who will line up to buy one.
There’s no sign of 600 W GPUs just yet but who knows in the near future? If they do appear, then you’ll almost certainly going to need a PSU like this MSI one. And I bet if it does happen, there’ll be a vendor launching afour-socket PSU just because it can!
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More about power suppliesThermaltake’s new 2000 W PSU is too powerful to be sold in the USA and comes with four PCIe 5.0 GPU power connectorsIf you’re preparing for an Nvidia RTX 50-series upgrade I’d pick up one of these Corsair PSUs while they’re cheap this Black FridayLatestThe Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in AprilSee more latest►
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Thermaltake’s new 2000 W PSU is too powerful to be sold in the USA and comes with four PCIe 5.0 GPU power connectorsIf you’re preparing for an Nvidia RTX 50-series upgrade I’d pick up one of these Corsair PSUs while they’re cheap this Black Friday
Thermaltake’s new 2000 W PSU is too powerful to be sold in the USA and comes with four PCIe 5.0 GPU power connectors
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If you’re preparing for an Nvidia RTX 50-series upgrade I’d pick up one of these Corsair PSUs while they’re cheap this Black Friday
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LatestThe Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in AprilSee more latest►
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The Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in April
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Is the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.
Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anything
If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 off
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