RTX 4xxx and 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 Cable Guidance

With the introduction of new high-performance graphics cards in 2022, the new ATX 3.0 / PCIe 5.0 standard required a new connector, so the 12VHPWR was created. After a year, with the further development of technology, in September 2023, a new revision of this connector was released, the 12V-2x6, which will now replace the older 12VHPWR connector for the new graphics cards and power supplies.

Power requirements as per the VGA card manufacturer’s recommendations:

RTX 40 model TGP Recommended PSU ATX version
RTX 4090 450 W 850 W ATX 2.x and above
RTX 4080 / SUPER 320 W 750 W ATX 2.x and above
RTX 4070 Ti / SUPER 285 W 700 W ATX 2.x and above
RTX 4070 / SUPER 200 W 650 W ATX 2.x and above
RTX 4060 Ti 165 W 550 W ATX 2.x and above
RTX 4060 115 W 550 W ATX 2.x and above

For more information regarding the specifications of the new RTX 40 Series graphic cards, please visit: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/graphics-cards/40-series/.

Seasonic 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 cable specifications

  • 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 connector (GPU side) to 2x 8-pin PCIe connectors (PSU side)
  • 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 16-pin connector (GPU side) to 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 16-pin connector (PSU side)
  • The 12V-2x6 connector is suitable for graphics cards with either a 12V-2x6 or 12VHPWR connector
  • Maximum 600 W rated power
  • 16 AWG (American Wire Gauge) size
  • HCS (High-Current System) terminals with 94V-0 plastic material for 8-pin housing
  • Compatible series (650 W and higher)*:
    • Seasonic PRIME
    • Seasonic FOCUS GX & PX
    • Seasonic FOCUS Plus Gold & Platinum
    • Seasonic Platinum, XP2 & XP3
    • Seasonic X-Series, KM3 & XM2
  • Not Compatible series:
    • Any power supplies rated under 650 W
    • FOCUS Gold & FOCUS GM - These power supplies have only 1x PCIe connector available and therefore cannot work with the Seasonic 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 600 W cable.
  • No risk of potential overcurrent/overpower issues with the 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 connector
  • Designed for a lifetime of 30 mating cycles, a normal standard for connectors
  • An explanation on why a 600W cable: https://hwbusters.com/psus/12vhpwr-connector/
  • *Please follow the recommendations of your VGA card manufacturer for the minimum power requirement.


    Recommendation on how to use our 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 cable

    • All connectors must be INSERTED, CLICK-LOCKED and SEATED properly to avoid issue. (See here)
    • DO NOT bend the cable in any direction once it is plugged into place.
    • DO NOT bend or apply force to the cable too close to the connector.

    Proper usage of the Seasonic 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 cable

    • Please watch the video on the NVIDIA RTX 4090 connector testing made by Aris from Hardware Busters:
    • While having a smaller form factor, the 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 cable contains more wires than previous PCIe connectors, leading to smaller tolerance in terms of how far the cable can be bent. Please handle the cable carefully and refer to the illustration below on the proper installation of the cable.
      Note: It is recommended to bend the cable prior to plugging it in.
      We do understand that there may be a need to bend the cables in order to fit them into the case. If this necessity arises then this must be done following below recommendations:
      1. Disconnect the 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 cable from the power supply and the GPU card.
      2. Carefully insert the connectors into the power supply and the GPU. 
      3. Make sure the connectors are properly seated and the latch on the connectors is engaged and locked into place with a click.
      4. It is very important that after the connectors are properly in place, not to bend the cables or exert any unnecessary force on the connectors anymore, either at the power supply or at the GPU end.

      If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at support@seasonic.com
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