Can a single splitter cable remain unplugged while using three of the four for your GPU?
Can a single splitter cable remain unplugged while using three of the four for your GPU?
Hello! I'm considering the new rx 9070 xt but it requires three PCIe connectors for power. My PSU only has two PCIe slots remaining, so I'd have to use splitter cables. Since it needs three PCIe ports, I'd need two splitters, which would give me four connectors overall. Would that still work if one of the connectors can be left unconnected?
Splitters are usually not advised because it’s too simple to overload the wiring, but I’m curious... why do you need two splitter cables when only one would suffice for three 8-pins? If you mean the factory PSU modular Y-cables with two 8-pin connectors each, then it’s okay to leave some connectors unused. Sometimes the wire gauge is enough to use both at once.
and my psu only has 2 remaining pcie connectors. What is the model and age of your psu? If you notice, splitting connections often leads to safety issues. To add, if your psu doesn't have the appropriate connectors for your devices, then you either have the incorrect psu or the wrong components. If it's a modular psu, you might be able to create a harness that avoids the need for splitters.
Technically, when connectors are linked together in a chain, the initial wiring should match the specifications—such as 16AWG for the first connector and 18AWG for the next. If the cable terminates directly at the PSU connector, both wires can use 18AWG. However, many PSU makers stick to 18AWG across all connections, which works well since most users won’t need to draw full 600W through them even with four connectors. In your scenario, if your card supports up to 304W and three 8-pin pins handle around 450W plus the PCIe slot’s 75W, each 8-pin only needs about 76W. This could be easily covered by a single 6-pin PCIe power connector.
Yes, you can use one of the cables on the side while still connecting all three needed ones.
It's clear you're unsure about how electricity operates. Don't stress too much.