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Do I Need the Extra PCIe 6-Pin Connector for This PC Build?

September 15, 2026 4 answers
Asked by MellowPine47
I'm planning my first high-end PC build and received a compatibility warning saying that one additional PCIe 6-pin power connector is needed. The system includes a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, MSI MAG X870E TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI motherboard, Corsair iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX LCD cooler, Radeon RX 9070 XT, and a 1000W Corsair RM1000x (2024) power supply. When I select the non-Max version of the motherboard, the warning disappears, even though the boards appear to have the same main power connectors. What does the warning refer to, and can I build the system without changing any parts?
Corsair PSU Hardware motherboard power MSI X870E Tomahawk MAX PC building PCIe power connector RX 9070 XT

Answers

CopperLantern8
The MAX motherboard has an optional supplemental PCIe power socket near the bottom of the board, labeled PCIe_PWR1. It provides additional power to the PCIe slots for unusually power-hungry expansion cards, but it isn’t required for this build or for the RX 9070 XT under normal use. The compatibility checker is simply being cautious, so you can leave that connector empty.
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MellowPine47
Thanks, that clears it up. I can leave the motherboard’s supplemental PCIe connector unused and still power the system with the cables supplied with the PSU. The warning is about an optional connection rather than a missing requirement for the core components.
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QuietOrbit22
The extra 6-pin warning may also be related to the Corsair cooler’s iCUE LINK hub. That hub uses a PCIe 6-pin connection because it can power a large number of fans and lighting devices through one controller. It isn’t an indication that the CPU or graphics card lacks power, and the included PSU should be suitable. If you ever need another modular cable, get one specifically made for that exact PSU model rather than using a generic cable.
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PixelHarbor6
The cooler’s PCIe connector is mainly for powering the LINK hub, especially if you plan to connect many additional fans. You can keep the cooler and motherboard as selected, connect the required cooler and graphics-card power cables, and leave the motherboard’s optional PCIe_PWR1 socket unused. Changing to a simpler 360 mm cooler without an LCD or LINK hub would avoid that particular warning, but it isn’t necessary.
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