Hey everyone! I'm currently using my new RTX 5070 with a pretty old 650W power supply unit (PSU) that has served me well through various GPUs like the HD 7970 GHz Edition, GTX 770, and GTX 1660. I've heard mixed opinions about using just one pigtail cable (which has 2x 8-pin PCI connectors) and that it might not be the best idea, especially with a 12VHPWR adapter. Can anyone confirm if this is actually dangerous with the RTX 5070, which has a maximum TDP of 250W? I've calculated that a single pigtail can technically deliver up to 288W, meaning I'd have some headroom for the GPU's power needs. Currently, my GPU is paired with an aging Ryzen 3600, which I know is bottlenecking the performance and should lead to lower GPU consumption. When I do upgrade the CPU, should I be worried about power issues, or can I wait to upgrade the PSU until then? Here's my PSU model: Thermaltake Tt Smart Standard 650W SP-650P/PCBBZ.
2 Answers
Honestly, I'd recommend getting a new PSU, especially since yours is 12 years old, which is well beyond the lifespan for most power supplies. It’s a good reason to upgrade to a more modern spec PSU. Good news is that your GPU is on the safer side for now, so it shouldn’t be at risk of burning out or melting.
I wouldn't trust running a single pigtail on an older PSU, especially with the RTX 5070. It’s smart to consider upgrading to at least a 750W PSU that has gold rating and preferably ATX 3.1 support. Since your 5070 is likely not drawing full power right now due to being bottlenecked by the Ryzen 3600, you could wait to upgrade the PSU until later when you decide to get a new CPU. You might want to check how much power your GPU is pulling currently with a monitoring tool like HWInfo.
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