That is all prototype {hardware} for now, however Asus has proven off an Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card working with out the necessity for any energy cables. As an alternative, the cardboard makes use of a customized slot on the motherboard to achieve entry to as much as 600W of energy.
In fact, meaning you may not solely want customized graphics card supporting the brand new energy supply interface, but additionally a particular motherboard. It is unclear whether or not Asus intends this to be a brand new industry-wide commonplace or stay one thing proprietary to its personal merchandise.
If this new tech is Asus-only, that clearly limits its attraction. In any case, you would be locked into Asus motherboards and graphics playing cards. However Asus says that motherboards supporting the brand new energy supply answer stay appropriate with standard graphics playing cards, which helps.
Extra to the purpose, eliminating cable muddle would possibly nonetheless be sufficient of a draw to make it worthwhile for some PC builders, particularly these aiming for the final phrase in clear minimalism. And a slot-based energy answer must also be extra dependable than clunky cables, which have not too long ago turn into weak factors resulting in {hardware} failures together with melting energy connectors.
Asus’s {hardware} answer entails a secondary slot on the motherboard that appears related in dimension and form to a 1x PCIe connection. The graphics card a part of the answer stands proud separate from and aft of the the primary 16x PCIe connector on the PCB. It is at present often called “GC-HPWR” however Asus says it’s going to give you one thing pithier when the merchandise hit the market.
Our understanding of the tech is that the brand new connector really acts as a passthrough for a 16-pin connection. Meaning you may nonetheless have these cables working from you PSU, it is simply they’re going to hook as much as connectors on the rear of the motherboard, which then go energy by means of to the GPU.
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If right, that will seem to be the brand new connector is simply shunting the cable downside to a distinct spot moderately than eradicating it. However there are nonetheless clear benefits.
First, you will not have cables protruding of the GPU. Second, the cables might be “match and overlook”. Seat them correctly as soon as and you’ll then swap out GPUs with out having to the touch the cables.
In fact, you may nonetheless should seat the graphics card accurately. However plugging energy cables into graphics playing cards has at all times appeared like a kludge and a slot-based answer for GPU energy positively looks like an enchancment.
Asus says that motherboards and graphics card with the brand new energy supply answer will appeal to a slight value premium, however hasn’t stated precisely once they’ll go on sale. Anyway, it seems fairly interesting to us, so here is hoping it catches on.
