One of the biggest questions about Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 40 series (Ada Lovelace) graphics cards is whether you need to upgrade the power supply. Uploaded by Nvidia New FAQ (opens in new tab) This sheds light on Ada’s power requirements for future adapters.
Consumers do not need to upgrade their power supply if the capacity meets Nvidia’s recommended wattage. His TGP for the GeForce RTX 4090 is 450W. That means you need at least an 850W unit. The GeForce RTX 4080 12GB (285W) requires a 700W power supply, while the GeForce RTX 4080 16GB (320W) requires a 750W unit.
As long as your power supply is capable and comes from a reputable vendor, there is no need to upgrade just yet. If it doesn’t meet your requirements, it’s probably best to choose one of the best power supplies.
For the GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards, Nvidia opted to use the new PCIe 5.0 power connector (12VHPWR) to reduce cable clutter and improve airflow inside the case. Some may be concerned about 12VHPWR’s fragile life cycle. However, the 30-cycle spec is the same as the standard for PCIe or ATX connectors that have been around for years, and the typical user is unlikely to plug and unplug the connector consistently.
The new ATX 3.0 power supply comes with a 12VHPWR connector. However, older units will have to rely on older power adapters. According to Nvidia, the GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards will come with the required power adapter, allowing you to power Ada from your existing ATX 2.0 power supply using the traditional 8-pin PCIe power connector. . These adapters come in three or four 8-pin to 16-pin designs.
An email was leaked from a PCI-SIG member circulating on the Internet about the potential overcurrent or overpower hazards of ATX 2.0 power supplies that use the 12VHPWR connector. Clearly, the report caused a lot of panic among the enthusiast community.
However, some publications misunderstood the PCI SIG’s message. The PCI-SIG wanted to warn its members that there is evidence that some of his 12VHPWR connectors suffered thermal fluctuations under certain scenarios due to the components used in their manufacture. was. The component may not have complied with PCI SIG requirements. Nvidia has confirmed that this is an issue specific to a particular vendor’s prototype connector, and the supplier has since resolved the issue.
On the 12VHPWR connector, the four signal contacts are just sense wires. There are no signal contacts on the power adapter. That’s why the power adapters included in GeForce RTX 40-series graphics cards have active circuitry that smartly acquires and reports the power capacity based on the number of 8-pin PCIe connectors. to the graphics card. The minimum requirement for the GeForce RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 16GB is three 8-pin PCIe power connectors, which is very convenient. So, for example, if the circuit detects four 8-pin PCIe power connectors, the GeForce RTX 4090 can increase power headroom for overclocking.
Whether or not to upgrade to an ATX 3.0 power supply is a matter of personal preference. With the right adapter it’s not a big deal, but some people might object to using adapters in high amperage applications. However, it is understandable that not all users can or want to change their power supply to a new one.
