I've been building computers for over five years, but I just learned that there's an option (or suggestion) to use two PCIe cables to connect a GPU. Recently, I built a new system and I'm running my 5070ti (Gigabyte Windforce) with a single PCIe cable that has two 8-pin connectors. The adapter on the card has two 8-pin slots and a 16-pin connector. My power supply is a Corsair RM850x from 2018. According to my research, the Corsair PCIe cables are rated for 300W from the PSU, and each 8-pin connector can handle 150W, with an additional 75W from the PCIe slot. Since the 5070ti consumes around 300W, I'm assuming I'm good, but I'm worried this setup might lead to problems later. Is this a risky setup?
3 Answers
Corsair states that your setup should be fine, so you probably don't need to worry too much.
It's always best to use a second cable instead of relying on a pigtail. Pigtails can be fine with good power supplies, but having a dedicated connector really helps in distributing the power load better. I don't foresee issues with a 300W card, but do check your PSU and consider adding that second PCIe connector for peace of mind unless your cable management makes it a hassle to switch things around.
Why take any chances? If you have a high-quality PSU with plenty of cables, you should definitely use them!
That's a good point, but I might need to buy new cables since all the ones from my PSU are pigtails.
I get that, but if my PSU's PCIe cables are pigtails rated for 150W each, would it really make a difference versus using two separate cables? Do I need to order new cables?