ASUS showcases a power cable-free RTX 4070 graphics card and compatible motherboard

A GPU that is powered by your motherboard? ASUS reveals their RTX 4070 Megalodon prototype

At Computex 2023, ASUS has revealed a unique RTX 4070 graphics card called the RTX 4070 Megalodon, a GPU that doesn’t require external power cables but instead draws power from a compatible motherboard though a custom PCIe style connector. 

With their RTX 4070 Megalodon prototype, ASUS are pushing the concept of a “cable-free” PC, a PC where all power connectors are hidden at the rear of motherboards. This design allows ASUS to create ultra-clean looking computers by hiding cable clutter exclusively behind a system’s motherboard tray, and makes the installation of GPUs and other add-on cards easier by pushing power exclusively though motherboards. 

Below we can see that standard PCIe 4.0 slot on ASUS’ RTX 4070 Megalodon and the GPU’s specialised power connector. While this power design was created by ASUS, it could be the beginnings of an open standard that could be adopted by other GPU manufacturers and motherboard makers.   

 (Images from WccfTech)

Below we can see how the RTX 40780 Megalodon fits onto a compatible motherboard, with the motherboard below being a custom 790 TUF Gaming series design. This special motherboard has all of its connection points hidden at the rear of the board, making them visible exclusively from behind your PC.s motherboard tray. This requires this motherboard to be used with compatible PC cases, which are designed to be used with this type of motherboard.

At this time it is unknown if ASUS plans to officially release any of these products, either as part of pre-built gaming PCs or as standalone components. While there are whispers of plans to create higher-end graphics cards that utilise this power configuration, it remains unclear if ASUS intends to make these products available to consumers, at least in their current form.

(Images from WccfTech)

A motherboard with a 12VHPWR connector?

While ASUS’ RTX 4070 Megalodon GPU is powered though the user’s motherboard, that power needs to come from somewhere. This is why ASUS’ custom hidden cable TUF Gaming motherboard features a 12VHPWR connector on its rear, a connector that can deliver more than enough power to fuel ASUS’s RTX hidden cable 4070.

With a 12VHPWR connector being necessary to power this custom RTX 4070, it becomes clear that ASUS’ hidden cable concept is an idea that only serves to make motherboards more complex and expensive. Surely powering a graphics card directly is more efficient and cost-effective? This, in our eyes, is where the hidden power cable concept falls flat, as while cable clutter can look unsightly, this workaround appears to be an expensive one. Perhaps PC builders would be better served with a 12VHPWR connector at the bottom of graphics cards and motherboard designs that feature cable pass-through holes. Surely that is simpler than trying to push up to 600 additional watts of power through a motherboard? 

(Images from WccfTech)

You can join the discussion on ASUS’ cable-free RTX 4070 Megalodon GPU prototype on the OC3D Forums.