I'm trying to figure out the connections for my graphics card. I know the basics about 6 and 8 pin PCIe cables, but my Founders Edition RTX 3070 has a smaller 12-pin plug. I noticed my power supply has a PCIe 5.1 plug that's 12-pin as well. Are these two connections compatible, or is there another standard I need to be aware of? I currently have my 3070 connected with two PCIe 8-pin cables, but I'd prefer to streamline things by using a single cable directly from my PSU to GPU, if that's possible.
3 Answers
Unfortunately, those two connectors aren't compatible. The RTX 30 series introduced the 12-pin connection, while the 40 series later standardised it into what’s known as the 12VHPWR connector. They look similar but aren't interchangeable.
I just wanted to clarify—your 3070 is definitely using a 12-pin connector, not 14. Also, you won't be able to use the newer 12VHPWR standard cables with the 30 series cards, so stick with what you have for now.
Your RTX 3070 actually has a 12-pin connector, not 14. The PCIe 5.1 term refers to a 12V-2x6 configuration, which includes additional pins for sensing power. Although Nvidia introduced those 12-pin connectors on the 30 series before the design was finalized, it’s crucial to ensure that the orientation of the connector doesn’t interfere with proper insertion.
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