I'm planning to upgrade from an RTX 3070 Ti to an RX 9070 XT, but I'm unsure which model makes the most sense. I like the appearance of the Sapphire Nitro+, though I've seen reports of its power connectors overheating or melting when the included adapter is used. Is using a native 12V-2x6 cable from a newer power supply a reliable solution, or would it be safer to avoid that design altogether?
My current power supply is an older ATX 2.4 750W unit, so I'm considering replacing it. The alternatives I'm looking at include several models with three 8-pin PCIe connectors, such as the XFX Mercury Gaming Edition OC, ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 XT OC 16GB, and Gigabyte Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16GB. They're all around the same price.
Would a two-8-pin model be the better choice, and what 850W-or-higher power supply would you recommend for this card?
2 Answers
I’d avoid the 12VHPWR or 12V-2x6 connection if you have an equally good card option using standard 8-pin connectors. There have been reports of burned connectors on some Nitro+ cards, so I wouldn’t choose that model solely for its appearance. For the PSU, a high-quality 850W unit from a reputable tier is a sensible target. The Super Flower Leadex VII XG 850W is one strong option, provided it has enough separate PCIe power connections for your build. A 1000W model only really makes sense if your CPU and the rest of the system are unusually power-hungry.
The standard two-8-pin versions are probably the simplest choice unless a three-connector higher-end model is the same price and has substantially better cooling. The RX 9070 XT responds well to a mild undervolt, which can reduce power use and temperatures without giving up much performance. Whichever card you buy, use properly seated cables and avoid sharply bending them right next to the connector.
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