Side-by-Side Comparison
Power Connectors & PCB Packages
ATX & EPS Power Supply Pinouts vs. PCIe 12VHPWR & 12V-2x6 Connectors
Comparing 2 standards across 13 specifications. 13 key differences identified.
Comparing:
ATX & EPS Power Supply Pinouts
PCIe 12VHPWR & 12V-2x6 Connectors
Desktop PC power supplies deliver multi-rail DC power under Intel ATX12V and EPS12V standards through standardized Molex Mini-Fit Jr. connectors: 24-Pin ATX Main (+3.3V, +5V, +12V, -12V, +5VSB, PS_ON#), 8-Pin EPS12V CPU (+12V), and 6+2 Pin PCIe auxiliary power.
The 12VHPWR (12+4 Pin / PCIe Gen 5) and revised 12V-2x6 (PCIe CEM 5.1 / ATX 3.1) high-power connectors deliver up to 600 Watts of continuous 12V DC power to graphics cards through 12 primary power conductors and 4 micro sideband sense pins (SENSE0, SENSE1).
Specification Comparison Table
13 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Governing Standards
|
Intel ATX12V v2.52 / EPS12V v2.92 / SSI Specification / Molex Mini-Fit Jr. 4.2 mm pitch | PCI-SIG PCIe CEM 5.1 / ATX 3.1 (12V-2x6) / ATX 3.0 (12VHPWR) |
|
24-Pin ATX Mainboard Connector
|
Delivers +3.3V (Orange), +5V (Red), +12V (Yellow), Ground (Black), +5VSB Standby (Purple), PS_ON# (Green) | — |
|
8-Pin EPS12V CPU Connector
|
4× +12V pins (Yellow) + 4× Ground pins (Black) | Maximum capacity: 336W (28A at 12V using 18 AWG) | — |
|
6+2 Pin PCIe Graphics Connector
|
3× +12V pins + 5× Ground/Sense pins | Rated for 150W (8-pin) or 75W (6-pin configuration) | — |
|
PS_ON# Activation Pin
|
Pin 16 on 24-pin (Green wire) | Short to any Ground (Black) to manually turn power supply on | — |
|
PWR_OK (Power Good) Signal
|
Pin 8 (Gray wire) | Outputs +5V when internal voltages stabilize within ±5% tolerance (100–500 ms) | — |
|
Standard Wire Gauges
|
18 AWG minimum for main lines (16 AWG on high-wattage Gold/Platinum units) | — |
|
Conductor Layout
|
— | 16 Pins total: 12 High-Current Power/Ground Pins (3.0 mm pitch) + 4 Micro Sideband Sense Pins (2.0 mm pitch) |
|
Current Rating per Pin
|
— | 9.2 Amps per contact (continuous) across 6 positive + 6 ground pins |
|
Maximum Power Tiers
|
— | Configured via SENSE0/SENSE1 ground bonding: 150W, 300W, 450W, or 600W maximum |
|
12V-2x6 Revision (CEM 5.1)
|
— | Power pins lengthened by 0.25 mm; Sense pins recessed/shortened by 1.7 mm to prevent power delivery if incompletely seated |
|
Cable Wire Gauge Standard
|
— | 16 AWG required for primary 12V/GND power wires (28 AWG for sideband sense) |
|
Mating Cycle Durability
|
— | Standard rating: 30 mating cycles | Minimum bend clearance: 35 mm (1.38") from connector body |