Intel ATX12VO V3 standard is “simpler, smaller and smarter”
Intel is reportedly preparing a new revision of its ATX12VO power supply standard. The information comes from slides shared by momomo_us, which mention ATX12VO V3 and several changes to desktop PSU design.
ATX12VO was introduced by Intel in 2020 as a 12V-only PSU standard. The idea was to move 5V and 3.3V conversion from the power supply to the motherboard. Intel followed it with ATX12VO 2.0 in 2022, which also arrived alongside ATX 3.0 and the 12VHPWR connector specification.
Goodbye 24-pin power connector, at least for some systems
The leaked ATX12VO V3 slides reportedly mention a new 8-pin connector and the removal of the standby rail. Intel is also said to introduce Low Power and High Power modes. These modes are meant to improve efficiency and add new protection options for system power delivery.
Source: Intel
According to the leaked data, ATX12VO V3 can be up to 29% more efficient than standard multi-rail ATX power supplies at idle. The slides also list up to 12% higher efficiency during load tests. As with earlier ATX12VO versions, the biggest gains appear to be linked to low-load and idle operation.
Source: Intel
The new standard is also said to bring PMBUS to desktop systems. This is a communication interface already used in server power designs. In this implementation, PMBUS would add four optional motherboard connector pins, raising the total to 12 pins and allowing the PSU to communicate with the system for digital power management.
Back in 2022 we reported on ATX12VO 2.0 specification , and later MSI’s plans for ATX12VO motherboards for Intel and AMD platforms. The standard has remained limited in DIY systems, mostly because it requires both a compatible motherboard and a compatible power supply. Intel has not yet announced ATX12VO V3, but the timing of the leak suggests that it could be part of the company’s Computex 2026 updates.
Source: @momomo_us , TechPowerUP
