This is NOT a normal power supply... - ATX 12VO
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This video introduces the ATX 12VO power standard, highlighting a radical departure from traditional PC power architecture. It begins by noting how power supplies and motherboards have historically remained largely interchangeable, with unused pins or oversized connectors becoming the norm, and then presents the absence of the 24-pin connector as a core change. The host explains that the 12-volt rails are now the primary supply, with the 5-volt and 3.3-volt rails removed from the PSU, which necessitates on-board voltage regulation and new connector schemes. The ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR motherboard is showcased as one of the first ATX12VO boards, featuring an ATX12VO connector, a second PCIe-like six-pin, and dual SATA power conduits that rely on motherboard-side DC-DC conversion. The discussion covers why this standard aims to improve efficiency, including the rationale that reducing conversion losses at higher voltages and distributing conversion on the motherboard can yield better overall efficiency, particularly at idle. The segment then shifts to a practical look at how this impacts system design, including cost considerations for motherboards versus PSUs and the broader potential for integrated systems in environments with strict energy targets. The video wraps with a candid assessment of long-term adoption prospects, weighing potential market success against historical misfires, and ends with a sponsor read and a note about ongoing coverage of related tech topics. Overall, the host presents a balanced view that the ATX12VO approach offers real efficiency advantages in theory, but requires careful evaluation of motherboard, component, and user needs before broad consumer adoption.
Topics · hardware · power-supply · energy-efficiency · system-integration · computer-hardware · motherboard-design
Questions answered
- What is ATX12VO and what is the key hardware change compared to traditional PSUs?
- ATX12VO is a voltage standard that centralizes power delivery on 12 V rails from the PSU and moves voltage regulation and some auxiliary power needs to the motherboard. The most visible change is the removal of the 24-pin ATX connector and the absence of the 5 V and 3.3 V rails from the PSU, requiring new connectors and on-board DC-DC conversion.
- Why would this new standard improve efficiency, especially at idle?
- Efficiency improves because high voltage DC is converted less frequently and with lower conduction losses across wiring, with the motherboard performing additional DC-DC conversion to derive the needed voltages, potentially increasing overall efficiency, particularly at low to mid loads.
- What are the practical implications for users and system builders?
- Practically, ATX12VO requires compatible motherboards and components, may reduce PSU flexibility, adds motherboard-side power conversion hardware, and could raise motherboard costs while reducing the variety of available PSUs. It targets environments with strict energy targets and may first see adoption in integrated or enterprise systems before broad consumer use.
- Will existing PSUs be directly compatible with ATX12VO motherboards?
- No, ATX12VO is not directly compatible with motherboards designed for the traditional 24-pin ATX and 5 V/3.3 V rails. The new connectors and voltage rails require hardware designed for the ATX12VO standard.