ATX 3.0 vs ATX 3.1: What's the Difference?

ATX 3.1 PSUs yield some updates over ATX 3.0 that are useful for modern PC hardware, especially high-end GPUs and components. Below, we'll cover the major changes and explain their significance.

Measured in milliseconds, hold-up time indicates how long a PSU can sustain its output within specified voltage limits after a loss or drop in input power. ATX 3.1 features a shorter hold-up time of 12ms, compared to ATX 3.0's 17ms hold-up time. This results in a small improvement in the PSU's efficiency.

As we've seen in plenty of coverage of the 12VHPWR, the connector hasn't had the best situation dealt. Making amends on the flaws, the new 12V-2x6 connector is designed with longer conductor terminals (12V and ground) for improved conductivity, as well as shorter sense pins.

The shorter sense pins allow your GPU to now shut off if the connection comes loose. With that being said, 12V-2x6 connector is a welcome update as it addresses the primary issue with the 12VHPWR connector where users were experiencing catastrophic failure.

The 12V-2x6 connector is still capable of relaying up to 600W of power, accommodating the most demanding GPUs and components.

In summary, ATX 3.1 delivers some key improvements as compared to it's predecessor. They might seem minor, but it's a better standard now, so it's worth grabbing an ATX 3.1-compliant PSU from CORSAIR to help future-proof your next PC build.