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The first graphics card without power connectors is already on sale
ASUS' first cable-free graphics card is now available for purchase in China. Known as the RTX 4070-O12G-BTF card, the #141 includes a hidden HPCE power connector that replaces the #141 8-pin/16-pin connectors for additional PCIe card power. Due to compatibility restrictions, the unusual graphics card can only be purchased in a kit with a compatible motherboard or in a kit with a motherboard and a compatible case.
The new RTX 4070 belongs to ASUS' "Back To Future" (BTF) product series - which prioritizes experimental designs that highlight system aesthetics above all else. ASUS thus began testing a new design philosophy with power connectors that are completely hidden from the front of the system, promoting a more clean and minimalist look.
The design of the card with a large cooler with three fans and with a combination of white and blue colors was more as obviously inspired from the world of Japanese anime. The biggest feature of the card is certainly the already mentioned missing power cables. Instead, it gets all of its additional power from a small HPCE connector located just behind the PCIe x16 slot that plugs into the matching HPCE connector on the motherboard.
The RTX 4070 can be supplied with the Tianxuan TX B760-BTF motherboard, which supports the latest Intel Alder Lake and Raptor Lake processors. The base board of the #141 also has a similar design, but at the same time it includes a 12+1 power supply system and support for Wi-Fi 6. The board is of standard ATX format and has a black printed circuit board, but the majority of the #141; ina covered with plastic, similar to ASUS ROG series motherboards.
Like the RTX 4070, the B760-BTF has an HPCE connector for powering compatible ASUS graphics cards, located behind the primary x16 slot. The card can be purchased from one of the official ASUS online stores in China, but it is not clear if and when the card will be available elsewhere in the world. The approximate price of the RTX 4070 as a stand-alone product is $700, but you can also buy it bundled with a compatible motherboard or case. The ASUS GT502 BTF case is designed to work with ASUS hidden EPS and 24-pin #141 motherboard connectors mounted on the back. A #141 graphics card and #141 motherboard kit is available for around $1,000, and a complete case kit for around $1,100.
