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Still don't know why a smaller cable was needed. This card is the size of a game console, why does it need a slim cable? I would much rather buy some AIB partne

Still don't know why a smaller cable was needed. This card is the size of a game console, why does it need a slim cable? I would much rather buy some AIB partner 4090 that has four 8-pin connectors instead of one new connector.

michaelt 4y ago
The old mini-fit connector had evolved to be kind of sketchy - a six-pin connector with two pins you hold on the side to turn it into an 8-pin connector? Not pretty. And the new connector also adds 'sideband pins' so the power supply can tell the card how much power is available. That should reduce problems with random shutdowns due to drawing too much power. With that said, a connector that melts clearly isn't an improvement.
- borissk 4y ago
  "a six-pin connector with two pins you hold on the side to turn it into an 8-pin connector" No, most modern PSUs come with solid 8 pin connectors (as well as 6+2 pin connectors that you mention). If you watch the YouTube PC building channels, you'll see no one uses the latter for cards with 8 pin connector.
- smileybarry 4y ago
  New modular PSUs come with both 6+2- and 8-pin cables. OEM PCs and eGPUs still come with 6+2 cables for compatibility reasons IIRC.
  - _rs 4y ago
    FWIW I just helped build a new PC and the Seasonic PX PSU used only had 6+2 cables in the box
    - smileybarry 4y ago
      Weird, I bought multiple Corsair RMx PSUs over the years and they came with both versions. I guess it wasn't as widespread as I thought.
- arghwhat 4y ago
  The 8-pin connector is also just an outdated design. It's unnecessarily bulky, and rated at a measly 150 W. The idea wasn't for you to put 4 of these (32 pins and wires) together to power a single device. For reference, an Anderson PP45 connector pair (from 1966!) is smaller than the original 8-pin connector and would handle 660 W at 12V reliably at up to 10000 cycles (and can even handle hot-unplug).
  - japanuspus 4y ago
    Yup, was thinking Anderson connectors as well -- I use one to power my trolling motor.
BillinghamJ 4y ago
Despite their size, these cards can fit great in extremely compact SFF cases (and in those, can have much better thermals than in regular cases) In those kinds of cases, cable management and space/size tolerances can be very difficult - swapping four connectors for one makes a big difference
c_o_n_v_e_x 4y ago
>why does it need a slim cable? Besides aesthetics and ease of integration in the chassis, air flow / cooling is a non-trivial issue, particularly with the wattages systems are running now. More or wider cables increase chassis air flow impedance which requires higher pressure fans to overcome which translates to a louder overall system.
mastax 4y ago
The Nvidia Founders Edition cards have tiny PCBs, due to their relatively small coolers and the flow through design. There isn't space for 3 8-pin connectors. And yes, that was definitely a choice but they're sticking to it.

michaelt 4y ago

The old mini-fit connector had evolved to be kind of sketchy - a six-pin connector with two pins you hold on the side to turn it into an 8-pin connector? Not pretty. And the new connector also adds 'sideband pins' so the power supply can tell the card how much power is available. That should reduce problems with random shutdowns due to drawing too much power. With that said, a connector that melts clearly isn't an improvement.

borissk 4y ago
"a six-pin connector with two pins you hold on the side to turn it into an 8-pin connector" No, most modern PSUs come with solid 8 pin connectors (as well as 6+2 pin connectors that you mention). If you watch the YouTube PC building channels, you'll see no one uses the latter for cards with 8 pin connector.
smileybarry 4y ago
New modular PSUs come with both 6+2- and 8-pin cables. OEM PCs and eGPUs still come with 6+2 cables for compatibility reasons IIRC.
- _rs 4y ago
  FWIW I just helped build a new PC and the Seasonic PX PSU used only had 6+2 cables in the box
  - smileybarry 4y ago
    Weird, I bought multiple Corsair RMx PSUs over the years and they came with both versions. I guess it wasn't as widespread as I thought.
arghwhat 4y ago
The 8-pin connector is also just an outdated design. It's unnecessarily bulky, and rated at a measly 150 W. The idea wasn't for you to put 4 of these (32 pins and wires) together to power a single device. For reference, an Anderson PP45 connector pair (from 1966!) is smaller than the original 8-pin connector and would handle 660 W at 12V reliably at up to 10000 cycles (and can even handle hot-unplug).
- japanuspus 4y ago
  Yup, was thinking Anderson connectors as well -- I use one to power my trolling motor.

BillinghamJ 4y ago

Despite their size, these cards can fit great in extremely compact SFF cases (and in those, can have much better thermals than in regular cases) In those kinds of cases, cable management and space/size tolerances can be very difficult - swapping four connectors for one makes a big difference

c_o_n_v_e_x 4y ago

>why does it need a slim cable? Besides aesthetics and ease of integration in the chassis, air flow / cooling is a non-trivial issue, particularly with the wattages systems are running now. More or wider cables increase chassis air flow impedance which requires higher pressure fans to overcome which translates to a louder overall system.

mastax 4y ago

The Nvidia Founders Edition cards have tiny PCBs, due to their relatively small coolers and the flow through design. There isn't space for 3 8-pin connectors. And yes, that was definitely a choice but they're sticking to it.