I think there is no need to panic as the RTX 5060 doesn't draw that much power, but an 8-pin connector will always remain the king.
Yeston And Maxsun Force 16-Pin Connectors On GeForce RTX 5060 By Using The GB205 Die
If you didn't pay attention, some newer RTX 5060s are using the cut-down GB205 die. While most RTX 5060s are still using the same GB206 die, which debuted last year, some vendors have transitioned to the GPU die utilized in the GeForce RTX 5070 GPU. A few days ago, MSI did the same by launching four new RTX 5060 GPUs with the GB205 die.
However, the PCBs of these GPUs are redesigned to accommodate the same 8-pin connector as the GB206-based RTX 5060s. This is understandable since RTX 5060 isn't a power-hungry card and is rated at just 145-150W depending on the edition. While an 8-pin is sufficient even for cards that are rated 200W-225W, some vendors had other plans for the new RTX 5060s.
Chinese GPU makers Yeston and Maxsun were seen releasing newer RTX 5060 editions with the 16-pin power connector instead. It's surprising since the RTX 5060 doesn't need it, but as per what we spotted in some videos on Bilibili, both GPU makers have deployed the newer power connector in these GPUs, which appear originally designed for 70-class cards. We can also see unused PCB traces for the 8-pin PCIe power connectors on the cards, but of course, vendors chose to go with the 16-pin ones.
Thanks to @unikoshardware, we can see that Yeston and Maxsun retained the PCB design originally meant for higher-end cards, but since they utilized the GB205 die, which debuted with the RTX 5070, both manufacturers kept the original PCB layout. This resulted in the deployment of a 16-pin power connector instead of an 8-pin.
From Yeston, it's the RTX 5060 Gaea while Maxsun has the 16-pin connector on its RTX 5060 i-Craft Cyber Magical Girl edition. Both can be seen using the rectangular GPU core mounting instead of square, which is what we saw on the newer MSI V1 RTX 5060 cards. After the disassembly, the PCB reveals the "GB205-200-KA-A1 die", which disables a memory channel to ensure the card can have the 8 GB memory configuration through a 128-bit bus.
Unlike the GB206-based RTX 5060 GPUs, these have all four GDDR7 memory chips soldered only on one side of the GPU substrate, while four slots on the sides remain empty. I think adding the 16-pin connector isn't a big issue for the RTX 5060 since the card doesn't draw a lot of power, which has notoriously burned and melted connectors on higher-end RTX 50 series cards. However, the 8-pin still appears to be a much safer option even for lower-end GPUs.
News Sources: Bilibili, Bilibili, Bilibili
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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