Corsair hints next-gen GPUs may be significantly more power-hungry

The next wave of power-hungry GPUs is coming, finally

by · TechSpot

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Forward-looking: Corsair wants to put concerns about powering next-gen graphics cards to rest. The company says its range of PSUs will be more than capable of powering the next generation of graphics cards. However, the real story here is the company's bold confidence – a hint that Corsair might have the inside scoop on what Nvidia and AMD have cooking for their next high-end GPU launches.

In a recent announcement, Corsair stated that its "range of power supplies will fully support the highly-anticipated next generation of graphics cards." Not that we expected them to say otherwise, but between the lines we can infer that the 12v-2x6 GPU power connector standard will be sticking around for at least one more cycle.

More significantly, Corsair anticipates that systems equipped with next-gen GPUs will require total power draws ranging from 750W to a whopping 1500W. To put that in perspective, the RTX 4090 – one of the most power-hungry GPUs currently available – has a TDP of 450W.

If and when those new GPUs drop, Corsair says that it has you covered with multiple options across its lineup. The fully modular RMe series with Gold-certified efficiency tops out at 1000W for "high-performance builds." If you prefer quiet operation, the RMx models have noise-dampening 140mm fans and are available up to 1200W. For the power-hungry enthusiasts, Corsair's flagship HXi series offers Platinum-rated efficiency and "top-tier electrical reliability" in capacities up to 1500W.

What caught our attention is that given Corsair's confidence and its assurance that these power supplies are future-proof, it suggests that the company may have insider knowledge about what Nvidia and AMD are planning for their next wave of high-end GPU launches.

Currently, most users pair the RTX 4090 with an 850W PSU. Doubling that recommendation to Corsair's maximum supported 1500W may seem excessive, but the announcement indirectly hints that next-gen GPUs will have higher TGPs. Earlier rumors from September suggested that the RTX 5090 could draw up to 600W.

Beyond this, issues with the 12VHPWR connector – which caused some RTX 4090 connectors to melt – might be pushing PSU manufacturers to go overkill. Nvidia has attributed the melting issues to user error though, caused by connectors not being plugged in fully, or so they say.

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All said, Corsair's grand pronouncements about their readiness may be our first big tease that these power-hungry GPUs are indeed headed our way soon. With the RTX 5080 and 5090 rumored for a CES 2025 unveiling, we should find out what's at play soon enough.