12V-Only Power Supply Spec Launching This Year

b00merang69 · 23 Jan 2020 at 17:35

Intel is reportedly planning to launch the "ATX12VO" specification.

"The current ATX power supply specification has been quite consistent since about 1995 with but a few changes since. However, that might change soon, according to CustomPC. The site reported that Intel will launch its "ATX12VO" design specification, with the "O" standing for "Only," this year.

Initially, the transition will only hit system integrators, so the DIY space will likely continue using the existing 12V ATX design for quite some time.

The idea behind ATX12VO is that it ditches the 3.3V and 5V rails, leaving the power supply's only job as to provide 12V to the system's components. This simplifies the power circuitry design and, thus, lowers the production cost of components."

Rest of Info bellow:

https://www.tomshardware.com/uk/news/atx12vo-12v-only-power-supplies-psus

EsaT · 23 Jan 2020 at 20:52

It definitely won't lower cost of most PC components, because they would need to start including more own step-down switchers:
HDDs use 5V for logic.
SATA SSDs might be using just 5V.
PCIe uses 3,3V.
USB uses 5V.

b00merang69 · 23 Jan 2020 at 22:04

Yes but in reading it and the comments some day they will all use 12v like some current USB devices and the Mobo can step down for other voltages.

Remember if a device can use 120v and 240v is uses twice the current to run at the lower voltage AFAIR.

So IMO the 12v devices will use less current than 5v.

I am not saying it is a good thing but my last Mobo to rely on the 5v for CPU was an Asus nForce 2 where as other vendors were using the 12v rail, this meant I had very few few good choices for a PSU for OC'ing.

EsaT · 24 Jan 2020 at 11:21

b00merang69 said:
Yes but in reading it and the comments some day they will all use 12v like some current USB devices and the Mobo can step down for other voltages.

So IMO the 12v devices will use less current than 5v.

Without breaking compatibility it's impossible to make USB not use 5V.
(and USB-C is already enough mess)
All those higher voltage USB power transfers work by both devices starting with standard 5V operation and having electronics, which negotiates change to higher voltage and connects 12V into port.
That electronics would need to be added into every single port.
If port pushed always out 12V that would most likely fry all current USB devices when connected.

Transfer losses in wiring are significant factor only for high power draw components.
That's why CPUs (+GPUs) originally used 3.3V and then 5V, until their power draws grew high.

And motherboards won't magically gain free room to house additional step down VRMs and places for power cables to feed drives.
Again some separate power dongle to feed drives is no doubt more expensive than what this change would save in PSU's price, while motherboard would still need 3.3V and 5V switchers.

So while definitely good for replacing proprietary craps in some market PCs, in wide use this would be like Finnish idiom about blanket extension of fools:
Cutting that piece to extend one end from blanket's other end.

Monkeynut · 28 Jan 2020 at 19:29

It doesn't seem particularly amazing as most modern ATX Power supplies are 12V PSUs anyway and the 5v and 3.3V are produced from the 12V with DC-DC converters.

Solus · 26 Feb 2020 at 10:28

Reduces cost of PSU, but motherboards will cost more. Silly imo. I repair games consoles, in the case of the XBOX One it only uses 12v. Board failures relating to power regulation circuitry are constantly seen.