[thescriptkiddie]

Another thing is that the remaining 2 pins on an 8 pin connector are sense pins. They are connected to +12V and GND on the load side, and to a voltmeter on the supply side. This allows the supply to measure the voltage drop which indicates a bad connection or overloaded wire. The new 12 pin connector does not support this.

[arghwhat]

This is not true. Both 6 and 8 pin connectors have "sense" pins (sense0 and sense1 - one in the 6-pin section, one in the extra two pins), but they are not a voltage feedback line. They serve to signal that 0W (nothing), 75W (6-pin) or 150W (8-pin) has been connected.

This is directly equivalent to the two sense pins on the new connector - except that rather than signalling 0, 75 or 150W, it signals 150W, 300W, 450W and 600W. Cable present has been given its own pin, together with a new "power stable" pin - all in the small 4-pin sub-connector, rather than wasting power pins for sensing.

No capabilities have been lost. Bad contact issues aside, it's a big improvement in every aspect.