Hey everyone! I recently purchased an ASUS TUF RTX 5080 to upgrade from my RTX 3080. My current power supply is the EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 GT (80 Plus Gold). The catch is that the new GPU requires three 8-pin PCIe connections, and I don't have a third PCIe cable. Should I buy another PCIe cable directly from EVGA? Is it safe to use cables from other brands? Or should I consider getting a new power supply that supports a native 12VHPWR / 12V-2×6 cable? I'd love to hear any advice from those who have made similar upgrades. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Using a native 12VHPWR is definitely the best option. Avoid mixing brands or using cables from different PSUs because the pinouts aren't standardized and that could lead to issues. Daisy chaining two PCIe cables onto three connectors on the adapter should work, but it's not ideal.
I wouldn't recommend using cables from another brand. Either option you mentioned would work, but if you're okay with spending a bit, upgrading to a newer PSU would be worth it. It makes the setup cleaner since you won't need adapters, and you'll be future-proofed for upcoming upgrades.
According to EVGA's site, you should have more than enough cables since your PSU is modular. Check if you still have the extra cables from when you built your PC. Just make sure to use the correct cables to avoid any damage to your components. If you can't find them, reach out to EVGA for replacements.
Thanks for the tip! I actually can’t find the PSU box anymore, which might have the cables. I’ll contact the shop where I bought the PSU and see if they can help me get a PCIe cable for my model.