Is it normal to have some play in the 12V-2x6 connector terminals?

Many people have become aware of some play in the terminals of their 12V-2x6 cables. We're going to explain why this play is an intentional design decision.

There is a deliberately designed amount of play, a slight movement back and forth, among the terminals within the 12V-2x6 connectors. This subtle mobility ensures that the terminals of the 12V-2x6 cable (formally known as 12VHPWR,) align precisely with the static PCB terminals on the GPU’s power connector. This careful design consideration is crucial for optimal connection.

We have found that with less play comes more insertion force and wear that reduces the number of maximum insertion/withdrawal cycles beyond the specified “30 cycles” found in the terminals’ data sheets.

Below you can see an example showing the correct amount of play in the terminals. The cable in the example video has 0.55mm of play, which is within the 0.25mm to 0.55mm spec we use in our cables.

We use three different vendors for cables, so some will be 0.25mm, others will be 0.55 with the majority being 0.44mm.

If you believe that your cable has too much play, you can reach out to our customer support team here.

Once the cable’s connector is fully inserted, and the connection with the GPU’s power connector is secure, the terminals are stabilized, so the play disappears.

They don't. The additional thickness gained by the paracord sleeving used in our individually sleeved cables makes it seem like the cable is tighter, but this is not case. The actual terminals within the connector still have the same amount of play as any other 12V-2x6 cable.