Once upon a time, the parts in your PC required all kinds of voltages. The ATX customary defines 3.3V, 5V, and 12V connections in addition to -12V and 5V standby energy connections. Only a few of that is truly used at the moment. Virtually all trendy PC parts simply take 12V and convert it to no matter voltage their parts truly require. This is because of each developments in energy supply circuitry and the truth that most trendy PC parts require sufficient energy that delivering the present over 3.3V or 5V turns into problematic.
ATX12VO Main Power Connector pin-out. Image: Intel
ATX12VO is an Intel customary, so that you won’t anticipate it to seem on AMD motherboards. Well, you would be mistaken—ATX itself is an Intel customary, in spite of everything. The first firm to indicate off a Socket AM5 motherboard designed for ATX12VO is MSI, who has at the very least a pair of boards on the way in which: the MSI PRO B650 12VO WiFi for Socket AM5, and the MSI PRO H610M 12VO for LGA 1700.
Both of the upcoming motherboards seem like entry-level choices, however it in all probability would not matter as a result of they are not more likely to seem on retailer cabinets both method. MSI instructed the positioning that the upcoming {hardware} is primarily geared toward system integrators, and that it’s going to additionally offer its own-branded energy provide to associate with the brand new motherboards. After all, you’ll be able to’t run ATX12VO off of an ordinary ATX PSU.
Indeed, that is why ATX12VO hasn’t actually penetrated the market regardless of being unveiled in 2019. There are actually no downsides for customers—you find yourself with cheaper and extra environment friendly energy provides, cooler-running and quieter programs, and drastically much less cabling to handle. It’s attainable that ATX12VO motherboards could possibly be barely dearer than customary ATX boards, however pretty unlikely because it’s a lot simpler to step down from 12V to 5V or 3.3V on the motherboard if vital, and in any case the price ought to equalize. Hopefully we see extra ATX12VO adoption within the DIY market in 2024.
