My RTX 3090 has been crashing during games, and I recently learned that using a daisy-chained PCIe power lead may contribute to instability. I'm currently using a Corsair RM850x with a Ryzen 7 5700X, ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING motherboard, 32 GB of RAM, and Windows 11 Pro. I'm only running one GPU. Should I use two separate PCIe cables from the power supply instead, and are there specific cables I need to buy?
2 Answers
If you no longer have the original cables, buy replacement PCIe cables specifically listed as compatible with your exact Corsair RM850x model and revision. Don’t use cables from another PSU brand or a random modular cable. If the crashes continue after rewiring, also check GPU temperatures, drivers, and system stability instead of assuming the cable is the only cause.
Use the PCIe cables that were originally supplied with your Corsair RM850x, with each cable connected directly to the PSU and GPU rather than using the second connector on a single daisy-chain lead. Modular PSU cables are not universally interchangeable, even if the plugs look identical. The RM850x is generally sufficient for one RTX 3090, but separate power leads are the safer setup for its high transient power spikes.
I’m currently running only one GPU. The mention of two GPUs came from an older parts list, so I’ll make sure to use separate leads for the 3090.