DIY-APE, a team known for innovative backside motherboard designs, has unveiled a prototype for a 50-pin motherboard power connector. This concept design aims to deliver up to 1500W of power, eliminating the need for separate GPU power cables and simplifying PC builds.
This prototype is part of the BTF 3.0 (Back to the Future) design trend, which is gaining traction with motherboard manufacturers like ASUS and MaxSun. The large, rear-mounted connector is showcased on an Intel LGA1851 platform motherboard.
This single 50-pin interface replaces traditional 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS connectors, and is designed to deliver up to 1500W of peak power to the CPU, memory, storage, and even the graphics card.
The new connector can potentially support high-end GPUs like the RTX 5090, which is rumored to require up to 600W peak power. It also incorporates ASUS's new GC-HPWR PCIe-based power connector, which eliminates the need for standard 8-pin and 16-pin GPU power connectors (currently only supported by GPUs from two brands).
BTF 3.0 places all power connectors and headers on the back of the motherboard PCB, resulting in cleaner builds and improved airflow. This requires a compatible case, but many modern cases are compatible with these designs. Always ensure that your case is compatible before purchasing these motherboards.
DIY-APE has not yet announced a release date for this innovative power connector solution.
