Partners Free to Use 16-pin Power Connection, Optional for GeForce RTX 4070 PCIe 8-pin

For the next GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, NVIDIA is apparently flexible with its add-in card (AIC) partners regarding their choice of power connectors. It makes sense that this flexibility might also apply to the RTX 4060 series and below in the range. In its custom-designed products, NVIDIA reportedly gives partners the option of using either the more recent 16-pin ATX 12VHPWR connector or the more dependable older 8-pin PCIe power connectors. According to sources, the RTX 4070 may have two TGP classes, one rated at 225 W and likely to use 16-pin connectors, and the other at 200 W and likely to use PCIe power connectors.

Graphics cards can get by with two 8-pin PCIe connectors on the card, or a 16-pin connector with a dongle that transforms two 8-pin connectors into a 16-pin connector rated for 300 W, as normal graphics power (TGP) values for the future RTX 4070 are anticipated to be far under 300 W. The more affordable option is to have two 8-pin inputs on the card, which spares AICs from having to include that NVIDIA-designed power adapter in addition to the more unusual 16-pin input on the board. Founders Edition cards from the RTX 4070 and 4060 series have been photographed, and they undoubtedly include 16-pin connections. NVIDIA might debut the RTX 4070 in an unusual way, with specially designed graphics cards priced at NVIDIA MSRP going on sale a day earlier than those with higher prices. The MSRP cards might have 8-pin PCIe connections available.