F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop This PCIe 6-pin cable connects to newer motherboards, allowing faster data transfer and better performance.

This PCIe 6-pin cable connects to newer motherboards, allowing faster data transfer and better performance.

This PCIe 6-pin cable connects to newer motherboards, allowing faster data transfer and better performance.

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SynxVolume
Member
57
08-28-2021, 08:07 PM
#1
It seems to feature two "CPU PWR" connectors on the upper left side. I understand their purpose, but what about this red circular connector at the bottom? Initially I assumed it was for budget GPUs that can draw power from the PCIe slot, but it appears on high-end boards with dedicated GPU power connectors. This photo clearly shows it. I’m checking the Z690 MSI Ace, which also has it.
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SynxVolume
08-28-2021, 08:07 PM #1

It seems to feature two "CPU PWR" connectors on the upper left side. I understand their purpose, but what about this red circular connector at the bottom? Initially I assumed it was for budget GPUs that can draw power from the PCIe slot, but it appears on high-end boards with dedicated GPU power connectors. This photo clearly shows it. I’m checking the Z690 MSI Ace, which also has it.

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WildFlow
Member
187
09-02-2021, 01:52 PM
#2
The PCIe slots designed for up to 75W each (66W 12V, 9W 3.3V) are typically powered via the motherboard’s 24-pin connector. An additional 6-pin connector offers extra cabling for these slots, which can be handy when connecting multiple high-power devices to PCIe ports. This setup helps avoid overloading the 2x12V wires on the 24-pin connector. On boards with several such slots—like a workstation—this configuration prevents strain on the wiring. Some users view it more as a convenience feature, similar to how the EPS12V CPU power connector is seen as a minor addition on many systems.
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WildFlow
09-02-2021, 01:52 PM #2

The PCIe slots designed for up to 75W each (66W 12V, 9W 3.3V) are typically powered via the motherboard’s 24-pin connector. An additional 6-pin connector offers extra cabling for these slots, which can be handy when connecting multiple high-power devices to PCIe ports. This setup helps avoid overloading the 2x12V wires on the 24-pin connector. On boards with several such slots—like a workstation—this configuration prevents strain on the wiring. Some users view it more as a convenience feature, similar to how the EPS12V CPU power connector is seen as a minor addition on many systems.

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HermanZ07
Member
194
09-03-2021, 06:30 AM
#3
Thanks for the feedback. It seems unusual on premium boards.
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HermanZ07
09-03-2021, 06:30 AM #3

Thanks for the feedback. It seems unusual on premium boards.

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Elliepls
Member
222
09-03-2021, 12:20 PM
#4
It's strange about this board. It should easily provide full power to all cards, yet it still feels like a premium model packed with every available feature to attract buyers.
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Elliepls
09-03-2021, 12:20 PM #4

It's strange about this board. It should easily provide full power to all cards, yet it still feels like a premium model packed with every available feature to attract buyers.

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Marinehobo
Member
63
09-08-2021, 07:03 PM
#5
The 2014 X99 board uses an old 4-pin Molex connector for that setup, and they suggest using it in triple and quad-GPU configurations. A 24-pin slot works well with various cards, though if you expect many, having extra slots is beneficial. In this scenario with only two 16-pin slots, it seems more like a marketing point.
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Marinehobo
09-08-2021, 07:03 PM #5

The 2014 X99 board uses an old 4-pin Molex connector for that setup, and they suggest using it in triple and quad-GPU configurations. A 24-pin slot works well with various cards, though if you expect many, having extra slots is beneficial. In this scenario with only two 16-pin slots, it seems more like a marketing point.