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ATX 3.1 and the 12V-2x6 connector — what changed
The new standard does not raise transient tolerance, contrary to common belief. It does change the connector itself, and that matters.
1 min readPublished June 2, 2026Dawid Olko
A misunderstanding has grown around ATX 3.1: the standard does not raise the requirements for surviving transient spikes. Those are identical to ATX 3.0 — 200 per cent of rated power for 100 microseconds, 180 per cent for a millisecond.
The real change is the connector. 12V-2x6 replaces 12VHPWR with shortened sense pins and better latching. The effect is that a partially seated plug receives no power rather than drawing current through incomplete contact — and it was exactly that mechanism behind the reports of connectors overheating.