I recently bought a PowerSpec B766 desktop and am installing a Radeon RX 9070 XT. The power cables currently in the case don't seem to match the connectors on the graphics card. The GPU appears to have two 8-pin PCIe power sockets, while the available cable looked like a 6-pin connector. Do I need an adapter, or should I use different modular cables from the power supply?
3 Answers
If you’re unsure which cables are which, look for labels such as PCIe or VGA. CPU cables are usually marked CPU or EPS and commonly have a 4+4 layout; those must stay connected to the motherboard, not the GPU.
The 9070 XT should use two PCIe 6+2-pin connectors. Check behind the motherboard tray or in the accessory box for two separate PCIe cables with 6+2-pin ends. Connect one 8-pin plug to each GPU socket. Do not use an 8-pin CPU/EPS cable in the graphics card, even if it seems to fit—the wiring is different and could damage the hardware.
A 6+2-pin PCIe connector is the correct type: combine the small 2-pin section with the 6-pin section to make an 8-pin plug. Your card needs two of those. Avoid adapters unless the power supply genuinely lacks the proper PCIe cables, and make sure any modular cables are the ones supplied for that exact power supply.
I found additional PCIe cables behind the back panel and will use two of the 6+2-pin connectors rather than forcing the other cable.