I recently upgraded to a 9800X3D processor and paired it with an ASUS B650E-E Wifi motherboard. In the bundle from Microcenter, I noticed there's an 8-pin and a 4-pin connector for the CPU power. My power supply only includes one CPU power cable, which I've used to daisy chain the 8-pin connector into the 4-pin. Should I be concerned about this setup? I found another PCIE cable in the PSU box, but I think that's just for the GPU as it separates into a 6-pin and a 2-pin. Just to give context, here are my specs: ASUS B650E-E Wifi, 9800X3D, 32GB DDR5 6000MT/S CL36, RTX 5070 Ti, and a 2TB 990 Pro.
2 Answers
Generally, unless you’re planning on heavy overclocking, the second EPS power connector isn’t necessary at all. Using the daisy chain setup you have should be perfectly fine for typical usage.
Yeah, unless you're aiming for extreme performance, I don't think you'll ever need that extra power for a 9800X3D.
It’s surprising to see so many people worried about daisy chaining CPU cables. There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about proper PSU cable setups. It really shouldn’t be a major issue if done correctly.
Absolutely! Some folks act like using a daisy chain is a crime. For a dual 8-pin setup that doesn’t exceed 288w, it should be fine. Plus, the PSU usually has protections for overdraw.
Exactly! The PCIe connector supplies 75w, and while daisy-chained cables are often rated for 288w, they can handle a good amount of load safely.
Oh, that’s good to hear! So if I have it daisy chained right now, it should be okay but just not in use?