Building a new PC or upgrading an old one can be a stressful but exciting experience. But nothing brings that experience down faster than the realization that a part may not fit or work with the PC builder's current configuration. That's the threat PC builders may face if they upgrade to upcoming Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, according to a new rumor. If the rumor proves accurate, some buyers may have to spend some extra money on top of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's likely hefty price.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, as well as the entire line of GeForce RTX 30 cards using Nvidia's new Ampere architecture, are rumored to use a new 12-pin power interface. First reported by Chinese outlet FCPowerUp, the 12-pin connector for the 3080 and other cards would be used to meet the hardware's increased power demand compared to previous generations of cards. FCPowerUp has since shared a technical design document seemingly confirming that Nvidia is at least considering using the 12-pin connector.

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But the issue with the 12-pin power connector isn't the size of it, which could still be accommodated by PSUs and cabling that most PC builders already have, but due to the pin layout within the connector. TechRadar speculates that this new pin format could mean many PC builders will be forced to upgrade their PSUs alongside their new graphics cards. The idea being that many PC gamers' PSUs do not currently support Nvidia's rumored 12-pin connector for its GeForce RTX 30 series.

12-pin connector technical document

It seems logical that some type of modular cables or adapters could be used in order to support the new 12-pin format, but it's certainly possible that non-modular PSUs won't work if adapters aren't provided. There's clearly a possibility that some PC builders could be put in a tough position, but more details about Nvidia's new cards need to be revealed before anything can be said with certainty.

On paper, Nvidia's decision is still understandable. With graphics cards increasingly requiring more and more power, a step forward is necessary. And judging by the technical specifications of the 12-pin connector, which would deliver as much as 600 Watts of power, it would absolutely be a somewhat future-proofed step forward.

It just begs the question as to whether this specific 12-pin connector is necessary. Or whether Nvidia may be choosing an unconventional connector for reasons beyond just power requirements. It's also worth considering whether other card manufacturers will support the 12-pin connector or if it'll be limited to Nvidia's Founders Editions. There are a lot of questions left to answer and PC builders hopefully won't be waiting long to find out the truth.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti and the 30 series of Ampere cards are expected later this year.

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Source: FCPowerUp, TechRadar