Asus shows GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card without the usual power connectors
PC component manufacturers don't think cables are sexy. This is the conclusion drawn by the new concept RTX 40 graphics card. It no longer draws power via the PCIe connectors, but directly via the mainboard.
According to Wccftech, Asus is working on an RTX 4070 graphics card that does away with the usual PCIe power connectors. Instead, the card draws power via a proprietary slot on the motherboard. This is located behind the PCIe slot and is labelled "GC_HWPR". It is designed to deliver up to 600 watts of power.
Asus has shown the graphics card on a Z790 TUF gaming motherboard, which does not have any power connections on the front. Instead, these are located on the rear of the mainboard. In addition to the usual 24-pin connector for the mainboard and the 8-pin connectors for the CPU, the mainboard has three 8-pin connectors for PCIe cards and a 12VHPWR.
The idea is not entirely new. Several manufacturers are working on banishing the cable clutter from the front to the back of the PC. However, the approaches differ. In Project Stealth, Gigabyte puts the PCIe connections of the graphics card on the back of the graphics card. The standard PCIe cables are thus routed invisibly from the front to the rear through a hole in the housing wall.
In terms of price, the card and the mainboard will be slightly more expensive than other models from the manufacturer. The reason for this is the higher production costs due to the unusual layout and the low number of units. It is not yet known when the card will be launched on the market. The mainboard is expected to be released later in the year.
In principle, I welcome the manufacturers' approach. I have already written about this at an earlier point in time. However, the implementation causes me headaches. Every manufacturer seems to do it their own way. That's fine as long as it's a concept. It remains to be hoped that the manufacturers can agree on a standard. Otherwise, there is a risk that components will no longer be physically compatible with each other.
Cover image: Wccftech
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