I have an older EVGA SuperNOVA 650W power supply, model 220-G3-0650-Y1. I'm considering upgrading to an RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti, and these newer cards use a 16-pin power connector. The graphics card includes a 16-pin-to-three-8-pin adapter, but my PSU appears to have only two PCIe cable connections available. Can I safely use the included adapter, or should I replace the power supply with a newer, higher-wattage model?
4 Answers
Some RX 9070 XT versions only use two 8-pin connectors, while factory-overclocked models such as the higher-end variants may need three. Choosing a two-connector model would make your current cable setup simpler, though the 650W capacity could still be marginal.
I’d strongly consider replacing the PSU anyway. A 650W unit may be borderline for a modern high-end GPU, especially with transient power spikes. A quality 750W–850W unit with a native 16-pin GPU cable would provide more headroom and avoid relying on a daisy-chained adapter.
Even if the existing PSU can technically provide the required connectors, using the proper native cable and sufficient wattage is the safer long-term choice. The cost of a good PSU is small compared with the GPU, motherboard, or other components that could be damaged by an inadequate or overloaded power setup.
That PSU model has three PCIe connectors available across its two modular cables, so it may be compatible with the included three-8-pin adapter. However, check the exact cable layout and make sure you’re using the original cables for that power supply. Avoid mixing modular PSU cables from different models.
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