The 16-pin cable has been causing continuous problems. Despite improvements and changes made, some units have continued to burn out. While some of these incidents were due to user error, there are other cases that remain unclear, pointing to potential issues with the connector itself.
A 2,600-Watt Power Supply Without the 16-Pin Connector
ASUS is exploring safer alternatives to this connector and has demonstrated that it is possible to supply up to 2,600 watts without using the 16-pin power cable. This is thanks to the BTF standard, which can also work, if needed, in conjunction with the 16-pin power connector.
With the BTF standard, the need for an additional power connector on the graphics card is eliminated. Instead, a new connector that goes to the motherboard is used, reducing the number of components that can potentially fail in a graphics card. The compatible GPUs and motherboards include an additional gold connector and an adjacent GC-HPWR socket near the PCIe connector, where this new connector, resembling PCIe, is inserted.
When supplying 1,900 watts, the socket temperature reached 41°C, a much safer value compared to the 16-pin connectors. It was able to reach 2,600 watts without any stability or temperature issues.
This power supply system could be a great alternative, both for safety reasons and because it would eliminate the need for additional power cables. However, it remains unclear whether this standard will become widely available.
