What is PinProtect+?

PinProtect+ is a new feature in a recently announced power supply from CORSAIR. It is per-pin over current protection (OCP) on the 12V2x6 port with advanced functionality and iCUE integration. It was built to address concerns people have about their 12V-2x6 cable melting and offers users GPU protection for added peace of mind. This protection is integrated into the power supply and integrates with CORSAIR iCUE software to allow fine-tuned control of how it operates and to enable real-time display of the amount of current on each pin of the 12V-2x6 cable.

PinProtect+ monitors each of the six pins carrying 12V power to the GPU. If the current exceeds a threshold on any of the pins for a prolonged period it limits the power to the GPU, causing GPU to turn itself off to prevent any potential damage. It is essentially like the system telling the user, “Something weird is happening with the power cable, so let’s shut off the GPU to be careful.”

When PinProtect+ activates a user will see a few things occur immediately in two stages. First, it gives out a warning message on iCUE and the PSU LED fan will turn red, informing you that excessive current has been detected. After a brief period of abnormal current it will induce a GPU shut down to protect itself. This will result in the screen going dark, and the PSU fan will also ramp to 100%, to serve as an audible signal that your GPU has been shut down due to power irregularities.

If abnormal current persists for a short duration, PinProtect+ will cause your GPU to shut off, so you will be staring at a black screen, and the PSU fan will be running at 100%. To proceed you should hold down the power button to shut off your system. Once it has fully powered down you need to examine the 12V-2x6 connection on both ends to see if it was secure, as a loose connection can cause power abnormalities.

Disconnect the cable on both ends, take one last look at both ends, and securely reconnect them if no damage is visible. The 12V-2x6 cable on this power supply features dual-tone connectors, which is a visual aid to make sure the connection is secure. When you insert either end into the power supply and the GPU, the grey portion should not be visible at all.

You'll get an on-screen notification when PinProtect+ first activates, but if the power abnormality continues, PinProtect+ will cause the GPU to stop receiving power, so the GPU and the display will shut down and you won’t be able to see anything on your screen. However, once you reboot your PC and fire up iCUE, you will be notified that PinProtect+ has taken action and it is once again functioning normally.

PinProtect is designed to consider power excursions. By default, PinProtect has a built-in 30-second delay from when it’s triggered to when it reduces power to the GPU cable. During this period, it will keep monitoring the current on each pin and if power remains out of spec it will reduce power to the GPU cable. If power returns to normal then it will just record the power spike in the log file, and no further action will be taken.

Although both versions of this technology perform the same core function of providing over current protection for the 12V-2x6 connection, the + version is more advanced, precise, and has a lot more features.

First, it is controlled with iCUE software so it offers on-screen notifications, and you can customize its parameters to give you more control over how it functions. It also has lower thresholds for current monitoring, measures smaller increments of current, and is user-adjustable.

When using an iCUE-integrated power supply with PinProtect+ you will be able to enable and disable PinProtect+ in iCUE with a simple toggle switch, so that’s the first big change compared to the non-plus version. Though most people would never want to turn it off, we are giving people the option so that overclockers won’t feel inhibited.

Additionally, here’s a list what you can change in iCUE with PinProtect+:

• You can adjust the shutdown delay from 10s to 180s
• You can adjust the power thresholds in either direction up or down

The core feature is monitoring 12V-2x6 current to see if a threshold has been crossed for too long, and when that happens there is a brief delay to compensate for power excursions, after which it reduces power on the cable, leading to the GPU shutting off, so those are the parameters you can control.

As of this publication there is one CORSAIR power supply with PinProtect+, and it is the just-announced HX1000i SHIFT CRYSTAL. This is a new power supply that is part of our premium HXi series of iCUE-integrated power supplies. It features Cybenetics Platinum-certified efficiency, transparent side plates with RGB lighting, and includes a 10-year warranty.