MSI recently showcased their latest motherboard range, the X870 and X870E, at Gamescom 2024. One striking feature noticed by Cowcotland was the inclusion of 8-pin PCIe power connectors at the bottom of all the boards. This addition has sparked curiosity among enthusiasts and tech experts alike.
The reason behind the incorporation of these power connectors seems to be geared towards accommodating the demands of upcoming Nvidia and AMD graphics cards. According to Cowcotland, these new cards are expected to consume significant amounts of power, surpassing what standard PCIe slots can provide.
A standard PCIe x16 slot is capable of delivering up to 75W of power. By adding a 150W boost from an 8-pin connector, the total power supply from the motherboard reaches 225W. With the potential addition of up to 600W from a 12V-2×6 or 12VHPWR connector, the total power output could exceed 800W. This opens up possibilities for high-end cards like the RTX 5090 or even dual-card configurations for productivity or AI tasks.
The trend of increasing power consumption and TDPs in flagship graphics cards is evident. For instance, the RTX 4090 can draw up to 450W, with overclocked models reaching even higher levels. This raises questions about the necessity of such high power capabilities in motherboards and whether upcoming GPUs will require even more headroom.
While MSI has taken a proactive stance by including 8-pin connectors in their motherboard range, other manufacturers have not followed suit across their entire lineup. Enthusiast boards like the Asus Crosshair X870E Hero have also adopted this feature. The decision to include additional power connectors reflects either caution on MSI’s part or a preemptive response to the evolving landscape of graphics card power requirements.
As Intel’s Z890 boards are set to debut soon, the industry will be watching closely to see if more motherboard manufacturers incorporate similar power connector innovations. The ongoing rise in power demands from GPUs signals a shift in the design of motherboards to accommodate these evolving requirements. It will be fascinating to witness how the market responds to this trend and whether it becomes a standard feature in future motherboard releases.
MSI’s introduction of 8-pin PCIe power connectors in their X870 and X870E motherboards hints at a new era of power supply capabilities to support the demands of next-generation graphics cards. The evolving landscape of GPU power requirements poses challenges and opportunities for motherboard manufacturers to adapt and innovate. Time will tell if these power connector innovations become a standard feature across the industry or remain as a niche offering for high-end enthusiasts.