As NVIDIA continues to embrace the 12VHPWR connector for its RTX 40 series and upcoming GeForce GPUs, power supply manufacturers are increasingly focusing on models that support this new standard. While the familiar PCIe 8-pin power connectors have been a staple for years, the industry is shifting towards the latest technology to keep up with advancements.
Gigabyte, one of the pioneers in adopting this new connector starting with their UD1000GM, has been at the forefront of this transition. Today, we’ll be taking a quick look at their latest offering: the AORUS ELITE P1000W 80+ Platinum Modular PCIe 5.0 Power Supply.
Specifications
| Model | GP-AE1000PM PG5 |
| Type | Intel Form Factor ATX 12V v3.0 (Compatible with ATX 3.1) |
| PFC | Active PFC (>0.9 typical) |
| Input Voltage | 1200-200 Vac (full range) |
| Input Current | 6.5-15A |
| Input Frequency | 50-60Hz |
| Output Capacity | 1000W |
| Dimension | 150 x 140 x 86 mm |
| Fan Type | 120mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) fan |
| Efficiency | 80 PLUS Platinum (92% at typical load) |
| MTBF | >100,000 hours |
| Protection | OVP/OPP/SCP/UVP/OCP/OTP |
| Power Good Signal | 100-150ms |
| Hold Up Time | >16ms |
| Cable Type | Flat, All black |
| Connectors |
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Unboxing
As mentioned earlier, the P1000W is Gigabyte’s latest power supply with 12VHPWR connector support and we can see that being highlighted at the front of the box. For detailed information on cables, connectors, and specifications, you can refer to the back of the box before making your purchase.
The P1000W comes with a comprehensive set of cables to accommodate various components: ATX/MB 20+4 Pin, dual CPU/EPS 4+4 Pin, three PCIe 6+2 Pin cables, a 16-pin PCIe power cable for PCIe 5.0 graphics cards, SATA power cables, and 4-pin peripheral cables.
However, it’s important to note that some of these cables lack labels, which could be confusing for those who are new to PC building. Experienced builders may handle this without difficulty, but the absence of labeling could result in improper connections and potential damage for less experienced users. Adding clear labels to the cables would improve usability and safety, making the setup process smoother for everyone.
The P1000W features a fully modular design, enabling you to use only the necessary cables. This approach minimizes cable clutter and enhances overall cable management within your system. According to the specifications label, the +12V rail for both standard PCIe connectors and the 12VHPWR can deliver up to a maximum of 999.6 watts. This is sufficient to power most of today’s high-end graphics cards.
That aside, it’s also 80 PLUS Platinum certified and equipped with high-quality Japanese capacitors for enhanced efficiency, boasting over 92% efficiency, which helps reduce energy loss, heat, and electricity costs. Additionally, they feature comprehensive protection circuits—OCP, OTP, OVP, OPP, UVP, and SCP—to safeguard your system and components from potential damage.
At the side of the power supply, we can see the AORUS magnetic plate offers a unique feature by allowing users to attach it to various sides of the power supply according to their preference, ensuring an optimal visual effect from any angle. As the plate is adjusted within the case, its neon-colored printing and metallic sheen produce striking solid and hollow effects for the AORUS logo, adding a dynamic touch to your build.
User Experience
To thoroughly evaluate the power supply, we assembled a test system using high-power components to ensure it could deliver adequate power to all parts. Below is a list of the components used in our tests for those interested in the specifics of our test system configuration.
| CPU | Intel Core i9-14900K |
| Motherboard | ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore |
| Memory | KLEVV CRAS XR5 RGB DDR5-6200 32GB |
| Graphics Cards | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition |
| Power Supply | AORUS ELITE P1000W 80+ Platinum Modular PCIe 5.0 |
| Primary Storage | Kingston KC3000 2TB |
| Secondary Storage | WD Black 6TB HDD |
| CPU Cooler | Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL360 Flux |
| Chassis | Streacom BC1 Open Benchtable |
| Operating System | Windows 11 64bit |
For the stress test, we used a combination of tools including FurMark for GPU stress, ROG RealBench, Cinebench R23, and Prime95, each running for a minimum of one hour. During these tests, the highest total system power draw reached approximately 786 watts, but we did not encounter any failures throughout the test sessions.
Additionally, though not typically recommended, we ran the NiceHash miner on the system continuously for an entire day. The P1000W handled this load effortlessly. Extending the test duration further, the P1000W completed all tests without any signs of failure. The temperature remained stable, hovering around 50ºC, indicating that the power supply still had ample headroom.
First Impression
Gigabyte has maintained its signature design with a straightforward approach, particularly with its flat cables, which are ideal for modern PCs. The cables are of adequate length, facilitating clean and organized cable management—something that is especially valued by those who prioritize a tidy build. However, a minor drawback is the lack of labeling on some cables, which could be confusing for first-time builders who might struggle to distinguish between a 4+4 pin EPS connector and a 6+2 pin PCIe power connector.
The AORUS ELITE P1000W 80+ Platinum Modular PCIe 5.0 demonstrated exceptional performance in all our tests, effectively supporting our Intel Core i9-14900K and GeForce RTX 4090 at full load without any issues. Given its ability to handle the demanding RTX 4090, it is more than capable of powering other, less demanding graphics cards with ease. Overall, the P1000W proves to be a robust and reliable power supply, easily managing the high demands of our Ryzen 9 5950X and GeForce RTX 3080 test system without any problems.
