Colorful Launches RTX 50 Ultra Z Series Featuring GC-HPWR Support for ASUS BTF Motherboards, While Retaining Traditional 12V-2x6 Power Connector
Colorful has introduced its new RTX 50 Ultra Z Series, a lineup that brings official support for the ASUS GC-HPWR power interface, marking a rare instance of a GPU manufacturer adopting a proprietary connector designed by another vendor. This new series includes upcoming RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 Ti models, positioning Colorful as one of the first brands outside ASUS to provide native compatibility with the BTF motherboard ecosystem.
The GC-HPWR connector, part of ASUS’s Back-to-the-Future (BTF) design philosophy, enables GPU power delivery through a specialized hidden interface on the motherboard, reducing visible cabling and streamlining system aesthetics. While ASUS offers both BTF GPUs and BTF motherboards with this connector, Colorful does not manufacture BTF boards. Instead, the Ultra Z lineup is engineered to interface seamlessly with ASUS BTF platforms, offering users the benefits of rear mounted GPU power even within a mixed brand configuration.
To maintain broad compatibility, Colorful is not abandoning conventional power delivery. The Ultra Z cards also include a standard 12V-2x6 connector, with early listings such as the RTX 5070 Ti Ultra Z OC on JD confirming the dual-interface approach. This design gives users the flexibility to power the GPU through
GC-HPWR only,
12V-2x6 only, or
both simultaneously.
For systems equipped with compatible ASUS BTF motherboards, GC-HPWR can provide up to 600 watts directly through the board’s reinforced rear power slot. For traditional builds, the 12V-2x6 connector ensures the GPUs remain fully usable without requiring a BTF system. Using both connectors may help distribute load and reduce thermals on each interface, though connector related issues on the RTX 5070 series have already proven to be relatively rare.
This approach closely mirrors ASUS’s own BTF 2.5 GPUs, which also employ dual power interfaces to support both next generation and legacy system configurations. Colorful’s Ultra Z series demonstrates how third party manufacturers are beginning to embrace the BTF ecosystem’s growing demand, signaling broader industry interest in hidden cable architecture.
With the first RTX 5070 Ti Ultra Z models already listed and RTX 5060 Ultra Z variants expected to follow, Colorful is positioning itself as an early adopter of hybrid connector architecture for the RTX 50 generation. This could accelerate consumer adoption of BTF style systems while preserving seamless compatibility for traditional builds.
Would you upgrade to a BTF-style build for cleaner cable management, or stick with traditional connectors for now? Share your thoughts below.
