Hey everyone! I recently picked up a Sapphire Pulse 9070 graphics card along with an NZXT C750 Bronze PSU. I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to PC building, and I just noticed while assembling my rig that my PSU has a single cable supplying 2x8pin connectors. The PSU claims it can support GPUs drawing up to 220W, but my GPU's typical board power is also 220W. So, I'm worried—can I safely use my setup? Is it just going to limit my GPU performance since it can't exceed 220W, or could it potentially damage my GPU? Additionally, could undervolting help mitigate any issues? One last thing: I had to bend the GPU power cables a bit to fit the glass case back on—does that pose any risk? Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
If it works, then technically it should be fine, but it's not the best setup. Ideally, you'd want to use separate cables for your GPU. Since you only have one, be aware that your PSU may not provide optimal power delivery. Upgrading to a better PSU later could be a wise investment. Also, I couldn't find direct info on the maximum rating for your PCIe cable on NZXT's site—where did you get that 220W figure from?
From what I know, each PCIe cable can typically supply up to 150W, and the PCIe slot can provide an additional 75W. This means your GPU actually has potential draw capabilities up to 375W. While it's generally advised to avoid pigtail adapters, your NZXT 750W PSU should be sufficiently robust for your GPU's needs, keeping you within the safe power range. So, you shouldn't have anything to worry about right now!
Just to clarify, while each PCIe connector is rated for 150W, the actual power can depend on the wire gauge used in the cable. Also, modern GPUs usually draw less than the maximum through the PCIe slot—mostly just a few watts.
I thought it was capped at 150W too! But I guess they consider the PCIe slot's additional 75W into the total.
I didn't say it was capped at 220W; I just assumed that based on what I found online about PSU ratings and power delivery. Most sources just mention the 150W of PCIe cables.