Intel ATX12VO power supply standard arrives this year - gets rid of 24-pin connector

Earlier this month, FSP showed off a 12V-only power supply at CES 2020. Now some more details emerge about what this is all about. This is a new PSU specification pushed by Intel, it's called ATX12VO and it get rids of a lot of legacy stuff. Just like most betting these days is no longer done in the old-fashioned way but via more modern alternatives like best online sports betting, Intel is trying to usher PCs into a new era.

The new ATX standard is 12V only, it get rids of the 5V, 5VSB, and 3.3V power lines. Stuff that still needs 5V like USB ports will be taken care of via the motherboard, which will to DC-to-DC switching of 12V to lower-voltage domains. This will simplify power supply design and it also gets rid of the bulky 24-pin motherboard connector in favor of a more compact 10-pin connector.

There are various advantages here. It results in smaller PSUs, higher energy efficiency, and better cable management. One interesting implication here is that connectors like SATA and Molex will now no longer originate from the power supply but from the motherboard. With M.2 SSDs becoming more and more popular, it may indeed be time for a radical redesign of the power supply. The 5V and 3.3V rails are rarely used these days so letting the motherboard handle this, something it can already do, is a good way to improve platform efficiency and cut costs.

Instead, the motherboard will handle all voltage conversions from 12V down to lower voltages. For SATA-powered kit, such as SSDs, hard drives and optical drives, which need a 5V input, the power will now be drawn from the motherboard, which will have a side-mounted SATA power connector near the SATA data ports.

The first ATX12VO PSUs are expected later this year. At first, ATX12VO will be exclusive to system builds. Whether it will catch on in the DIY motherboard market is a big question mark as motherboard makers may be hesitant to adopt ATX12VO. As some of you may recall, the last time Intel tried something like this it wasn't successful. In the early 2000s, the chip giant tried to push BTX to enhance the airflow of computers but that standard never got off the ground. If you've just bought an expensive power supply with the hopes of using it for 7-10 years you may not be keen on switching to ATX12VO as it will require you to purchase a new PSU for your next upgrade. Either way, we'll likely see some interesting OEM designs soon and those will be ideal for computing in compact spaces. Perfect for some light office work, jeux casino en ligne after a long work week, watching online entertainment, or some casual gaming.

Via: CustomPC