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Seasonic’s next-generation Prime PSUs to will try to stop connectors from melting
(www.tomshardware.com)
this post was submitted on 22 May 2025
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Why can't we just use more robust connectors (xt60 for example)? Or higher voltages? Trying to send low voltage, high current through a bunch of tiny connectors and hoping none of them melt seems silly. Is it just because no one wants to challenge the standard?
Better connectors cost more money, as do DC transformers.
Changing either one requires industry consensus.
3x pcie connectors (3x 150w) + 75w from the x16 rail gets you to 525w. Scrape together 50 more and that’s a 5090s max advertised power draw.
XT connectors are designed for two big conductors.
But you actually end up needing a lot more copper than you do when using several smaller wires, to carry the same current.
Large wires are also a lot less flexible.
ATX connectors have been fit for purpose for decades. It's only this latest addition that seems to push things too far.
Most of these melty connectors are only carrying 2 rails, 12v+ and ground. There isn't a need to have 12 connections do the same thing as 2.
No. But you can get away with less material if you do.
The amount of copper required to carry 500 watts over 12 connectors is a lot less than 500 watts over two connectors.
I know that is true for AC stuff, but is it for DC?
Also these are high end, $500+ video cards, is another $5 in material going to change much?
Yes.
And yes. The cables don't come with the GPU. 5$ more for every new PSU made is not a drop in the bucket.
And I don't think you realize how thick, cumbersome, and stiff, two sole conductors that can do 500W at 12V would be.
The only reason mains power cables are so thin, is because they operate at 120-240V, allowing the amps (and the stress on the cable) to be fairly low. (It being AC also helps, the problem is WORSE with DC)
To do 500W at 12V, you need truly massive cables. And it gets exponentially bigger the more these cards pull.
In fact, the XT60 would not be enough. It can handle bursts of the 700 watts a 5090 can pull, but to deal with the fact that these GPUs pull that continuously, you need to go all the way up to an XT120.
standards exist for backwards compatibility, it would be pretty annoying to not be able to use a new GPU with my decade old PSU and passive adapters.