MSI's top-end PSU has two 12V-2x6 slots for twin GPUs or one very, very big GPU.

I visited MSI's factory in China recently, where they make motherboards, graphics card, monitors, etc. At the event, MSI launched several new products. One of these was the MEG AI1600T, which featured RGB lighting and a host high-end features. Oh, and two 12-V-2x6 sockets to accommodate Nvidia graphics cards.

MSI states that the AI1600T PSU is "ready for AI computing use". This makes it clear that this PSU will be aimed at people who want to do some homebrew AI stuff. Some of us at the event started talking about what else it could be used for.

One of MSI's engineers said in passing that its new PSUs are ready for the next-generation graphics cards. This obviously refers to Nvidia RTX 50 series, as these appear to be the next to arrive (AMD's RDNA 4 Series look to launch much later).

The 12V-2x6 is an updated version the infamous 12VHPWR that Nvidia introduced first in some of its RTX 30 model, e.g. The GeForce RTX3090. The connector was designed in conjunction with PCI-SIG and is rated at 600 W. However, as some RTX 3090 owners discovered, poorly made cables or even good ones which weren't fully seated could cause the design to melt.

This got us thinking. What if the RTX 5090 had a higher TGP than RTX 4090? What if the 450 W card was 550 W or even 600 W instead? The 12V-2x6 is meant to prevent another Meltgate. But what if Nvidia wanted to protect its reputation and thought it would be safer if all the power was spread across two connectors?

By using two cables, each cable can be kept under its rated current/power limit and prevent excessive heat from developing in one small area of the circuit board.

This idea has a major flaw: how many potential RTX-5090 buyers own a PSU that has two 12VHPWR/12V-2x6 connectors? I can't imagine Nvidia selling cards that require a buyer to purchase a new PSU, but it would be a great marketing tool.

I don't believe the RTX-5090 will be as energy-hungry, but I do think that the two 12V-2x6 sockets on the AI1600T power supply are only for multi-GPU systems handling AI workloads.

I wonder what the future of high-end graphics cards will be in terms power consumption. The 450 W TGP is impressive, but the card rarely reaches that level in gaming. It's also not the most power hungry GPU ever released.

The Radeon R9 390X2 and 290X2 twin GPU cards, both of which had 580 W power limits, are the winners. There are many cards with higher power limits, but they're mainly for workstations.

One 12V-2x6 would theoretically be enough for either of these AMD cards, and, as far I can tell, for any GPU that is heading our way in the near future.

Nvidia can make its halo model as large and powerful as it wants, even if AMD has withdrawn from the ultra-high end market.

There will be no shortage in PC gamers willing to pay the high price, even though there is no competition to keep it down.

Who knows if 600 W GPUs will be available in the near future. If they appear, you'll most likely need a PSU such as this MSI model. If it happens, I'm sure a vendor will launch a foursocket power supply just because they can!