Do the AMD RX 9000 series GPUs use a 12V-2x6 power connector?

AMD has officially announced its next-generation video card, the Radeon RX 9000 series. These new GPUs are meant to compete with NVIDIA’s RTX 50-series GPUs, specifically the 5070 and 5070 Ti models. The first two models to be available on the market are the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, which are expected to ship on March 6th. The RX 9060 series will follow later, most likely in Q2.

These new cards are going to be based on the new RDNA 4 architecture, which has a 4nm process compared to 5-6nm process of RDNA 3. RDNA 4 provides an acclaimed boost to several aspects, such as performance (>40% gaming average vs RDNA 3), raytracing, AI, and efficiency per compute unit.

Here is a quick look at what the specs look like for the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT.

For those who are still on the fence, trying to decide if they need to pull the trigger on the NVIDIA 50-series cards, especially those who have been riding their 30-series cards or older, this might be the opportunity for them to upgrade – considering NVIDIA 50-series card’s availability is still somewhat challenging, the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT could be the answer their prayers. But before we get ahead of ourselves, we should get as much information as possible about these new AMD cards, such as performance gain over the previous AMD and NVIDIA cards, which will be revealed once reviewers start getting their hands on them.

Another aspect worth noting is the recommended power supply. According to AMD, the recommended PSU wattage for the RX 9070 XT is 900W, and for the non-XT version, it is 650W. What about the power connector? Will they use the same 16-pin 12V-2x6 power connector that NVIDIA 50-series cards use?

As you can see from the image above, the answer is no. AMD will continue using traditional 8-pin PCI Express power connectors for its RX 9000 series graphics cards. However, we know about two AIB cards (for now) that will use the new 16-pin 12v-2x6 connector: the SAPPHIRE RX 9070 XT NITRO and the AsRock RX 9070 XT Taichi OC.

ASROCK RX 9070 XT TAICHI OC

SAPPHIRE RX 9070 XT NITRO

AMD did not mandate that its partners comply with the current 12V-2x6 power connector standard. However, two RX 9070 XT models from each brand utilize the new 12V-2x6 power connector. That said, the SAPPHIRE model's connector design is a bit interesting. The connection is hidden underneath the magnetic backplate of the card, concealing the power cables from view and providing a clean and clutter-free look for your build.

CORSAIR is ready for the next-gen AMD GPUs. Whether you are in for an upgrade or considering a new PC built with these new cards, CORSAIR has all the resources you need to guide every step of the way.

PC Builder is a powerful tool and resource. Its user-friendly interface ensures that you can confidently choose the PC components for your PC build. It also provides hardware recommendations, fitment, and compatibility, ensuring a worry-free PC building experience.

PSU Calculator—Choosing the right PSU for your build is as vital as choosing the right cooler for your CPU, so make sure you have all the information you need before making the purchase. The CORSAIR PSU Calculator does exactly that. After providing a few key components of your build, the tool recommends suitable power supplies.