GPU and PSU wiring issue for a new setup
GPU and PSU wiring issue for a new setup
I'm setting up my first PC and feeling a bit unsure about the setup. I have a 7800x3d M.S.I. B650 board, an MSI MPG A1000 power supply, and a 7900XT nitro GPU. The board has two slots for 8-pin CPU power, while the card has three. Although these cables differ, they all connect to the same power sockets in the same slots. The power supply came with a 12-pin dual 6+2 PCIe cable. Can I use this cable for two of my eight-pin slots on the GPU?
Welcome to this forum. Great to see your parts list. You can use a 12VHPWR-PCIe cable for two RX 7900 XTX slots and one regular PCIe-PCIe slot for the third. Alternatively, connect all three GPU slots via PCIe-PCIe and leave just one slot for the CPU. By the way, does your GPU PCIe cable have a 'pig tail' (branching into two PCIe plugs)?
It includes various connectors: 12-pin to 12-pin, 12-pin to dual 6+2, and 2 or 8-pin to 8-pin (6+2). Each has a pigtail with an 8-pin connector.
Observed that pigtail 8p (6+2) is widely accepted in the market now. You have flexibility in choosing slots for GPU power—combine 12V2x6 with 'CPU & PCIe' ports on the PSU or use two PCIe cables with a pigtail, leaving one cable hanging. Extra tips: The Ryzen 7800X3D doesn’t always need both power slots connected, since overclocking it is quite challenging. But if you manage to fill all slots, consider proceeding.
I’m unsure if I’ll ever boost the speed but I’ll definitely plug it in since there’s room and cables available. For now, I plan to use the 12-volt split cable for two of the GPU sockets and switch the other one to a standard one with a loose end. I also want a custom one for better fit. Regarding your question about the predator sticker on the thermal pad: you shouldn’t remove it unless you’re certain it won’t interfere with adhesion. Leave it on—it’s probably meant to stay in place.
This NVME storage might be part of a pre-built Acer Predator PC or a leftover from an unused laptop. The "sticker" you're trying to remove is likely the heat spreader, which helps move heat away from the memory chips. It spreads warmth across the 2280 form factor for better cooling. Most modern motherboards include a heatsink for NVME drives. Could you tell me about your B650 MSI board? If you look at some MSI B650 boards, they often use a M.2 Shield Frozr heatsink to keep things cool. That shield should be positioned on top of your NVME drive for optimal performance.
I have a tomahawk board with a foam pad attached. A sticker labeled the name is on top, and you can remove it to reveal a sticky surface. The thermal pad is also present on the bottom of the heatsink cover. The cover won’t fit both pads together. I’m considering three options: remove the pad from the underside of the heatsink, peel it from the memory, or peel the pad from the heatsink and then reposition the sticker onto the heatsink when installing.
She mentioned that clearly (sorry for the jokes) but I hadn't realized it wouldn't work due to the Predator sticker. It seems this might be the only option if the heatsink doesn't fit properly—it's still feasible to take off the sticker. You can clean any residue with a light spray of isopropyl alcohol using a cotton swab. I also recommend taking out the NVME from the motherboard to avoid possible issues. This approach is much better than leaving the thin sticker in place, as it ensures better thermal contact.