One thing to look ahead to: Asus has spent years working to remove GPU energy cables, and its evolving BTF normal represents a significant step ahead. The BTF normal shifts energy supply to a brand new connector positioned subsequent to the PCIe slot, requiring suitable motherboards and graphics playing cards. A current replace, nonetheless, introduces GPUs which are suitable with each BTF and conventional motherboards, addressing the largest impediment to adopting this new expertise.
Asus revealed extra particulars about its deliberate cableless GPU energy connector normal at CES final week. In line with HardwareLuxx, the up to date model of the Again to the Future (BTF) specification now helps non-compliant motherboards and will increase the utmost supported wattage.
Beforehand, Asus demonstrated BTF-compatible graphics playing cards that changed standard energy connectors with a brand new GC-HPWR gold finger, positioned alongside the PCIe x16 gold finger. BTF-compliant motherboards embody a corresponding HPCE connector, giving customized PC builders one much less cable to fret about.
The unique BTF specification (click on to enlarge)
Curiosity in a cableless normal surged after some Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 customers reported burning energy cables. Asus goals to make PC builds less complicated and safer by minimizing the variety of required cables.
Nevertheless, the primary era of BTF GPUs required BTF-compatible motherboards, which posed challenges for upgrades until the whole PC business adopted the usual. The introduction of BTF 2.0 GPUs mitigates this difficulty by supporting each GC-HPWR connectors and the extra widespread 12v-2×6 connectors.
BTF 2.0 (click on to enlarge)
The up to date design reintroduces 12v-2×6 connectors on the outward-facing facet of the graphics card, reverse the gold fingers. In the meantime, the GC-HPWR connector is now recessed and now not mechanically aligns with the HPCE connector.
Switching to BTF mode entails utilizing a removable GC-HPWR gold finger, which connects the GPU’s gold finger to the motherboard’s HPCE connector. Though Asus hasn’t but launched any BTF 2.0 graphics playing cards, the brand new design would enable customers to decide on between conventional motherboards and BTF-compatible fashions.
Removable GC-HPWR connector (click on to enlarge)
Furthermore, whereas earlier BTF-compatible graphics playing cards may draw as much as 600W from the motherboard, BTF 2.0 raises the restrict to a formidable 1,000W. Though no client GPUs at present require this a lot energy, flagship playing cards are getting hungrier. For example, Nvidia’s not too long ago introduced RTX 5090 has an influence requirement of 575W.
The GC-HPWR and HPCE connectors aren’t the one improvements within the BTF lineup. Asus associate DIY-APE is already engaged on BTF 3.0, which goals to create a cableless connection between the ability provide unit, motherboard, and GPU.
This next-generation normal introduces a brand new connector on the bottom of the motherboard, able to delivering as much as 1,500W to a number of system parts. If broadly adopted, BTF 3.0 would cut back the remaining cables in a PC construct to these for SATA units and chassis parts.
