NVIDIA’s upcoming RTX 5090 “Blackwell” GPU might just be a power-hungry beast
NVIDIA’s upcoming RTX 5090 “Blackwell” GPU might just be a power-hungry beast, possibly featuring two 16-pin power connectors. If true, this setup could allow the card to theoretically draw up to 1200 watts of power. While that doesn’t mean the GPU will actually need all 1200W, rumors suggest the total graphics power (TGP) could be close to or over 600W, which is why it might require both connectors.
NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has been vocal about the increasing demands of hardware, noting that Moore’s Law—the idea that processing power doubles every two years—is basically done. The “Blackwell” architecture is expected to bring some improvements in performance per watt, thanks to its new TSMC 4NP (4nm) manufacturing process, but this next-gen card is still expected to be a power-hungry upgrade over the current RTX 4090.
According to TweakTown, the decision to include two 16-pin connectors might be more about spreading the power load evenly to prevent strain on any one connector, even if the actual power draw stays around 600W. The expectation is that both connectors would have the capability to handle up to 600W each, just to avoid confusion in case someone mistakenly tries to mix them with lower-rated cables.
With this level of power draw, it’s pretty clear that older power supplies (PSUs) won’t cut it. Most new ATX 3.0 or ATX 3.1 PSUs only come with one 16-pin connector, meaning that users will need to rely on adapters for the second input, or upgrade to a PSU with two native 16-pin outputs. The upcoming 12V-2×6 connectors, which are compatible with 12VHPWR, will likely be the standard for these cards.
Some PSU manufacturers are already preparing for this shift. High-wattage PSUs, like Seasonic’s Prime PX-2200W or MSI’s MEG AI1600T PCIE5, are starting to include two native 12V-2×6 connectors, designed specifically for these power-hungry GPUs. This trend towards even more powerful PSUs is a clear sign of where the industry is heading.
In short, if the RTX 5090 does indeed require two 16-pin connectors, it’ll be a major leap in power requirements, likely pushing enthusiasts to upgrade their PSUs to handle the extra load. It’s a sign of the times: as GPUs become more powerful, they also demand more from our power setups.
