I have an ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3070 Ti and a Cooler Master MWE 750 Gold power supply. The PSU was advertised as having four PCIe connectors, but they're actually two cables with two connectors on each cable. The graphics card has three 8-pin power sockets. Is it safe to connect two separate PCIe cables and use one of the additional split connectors for the third socket, especially for long-term use? I'm not planning to overclock the card.
3 Answers
It will probably work, and many people run a setup like this without immediate problems. However, the safer choice is to use three separate PCIe cables if the graphics card manufacturer recommends it. Since this is a high-power model, avoiding a shared cable reduces the load on each wire and connector.
Check the graphics card manual rather than relying only on general advice. The instructions for this particular ROG Strix 3070 Ti show that all three 8-pin sockets should be supplied separately, so using two cables with one pigtail may not follow the manufacturer’s recommendation. A PSU with three dedicated PCIe cables would be the best long-term solution.
The system may operate normally with two cables and one daisy-chained connector, but that doesn’t guarantee it’s ideal under sustained load. If you keep the current setup, make sure every connector is fully seated and monitor for unusual heat, discoloration, or a burnt-plastic smell. Replacing the PSU or obtaining compatible additional cables is preferable; don’t use modular cables from a different PSU model.
That’s what concerned me too. I’ve seen plenty of people say the pigtail setup is fine, but the official guidance advises against it. I’m considering checking the cable temperatures and power load before deciding whether to replace the PSU.