An often overlooked yet crucial factor when building a PC is power consumption. A top-of-the-line graphics card can place too great a burden on many PSUs, and that is something gamers need to avoid. We have prepared this guide to help you better understand GPU power connectors.
Some low-end and mid-range graphics cards can only use the PCI Express x16 slot as a power source, but more robust cards will need to use 6-pin or 8-pin PCI Express power connectors.
This can be particularly perplexing when using a multi-GPU setup, as with the SLI. In that case, the power requirement is the sum of two (or more) connected graphics cards.
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PCI Express x16 Connector
Motherboards come with the aforementioned PCI Express x16 slot that can provide a maximum of 75 watts of power. Some feature multiple PCI Express x16 slots in order to connect more GPUs, but, as previously mentioned, this boosts the power demand.
Here are a few examples of GPUs that don’t require external power: GT 1030, GTX 1050 2GB variant, RX 550, RX 460, and many others. As none of these GPUs have a lot of computational power, they don’t need more than 75 watts of energy.
6-Pin Connector
This connector can provide the GPU with an additional 75 units of power. This means the graphics card will utilize the PCI Express x16 slot and draw electricity directly from the PSU (Power Supply Unit).
Despite the fact that 150 watts are enough for most graphics cards, top-tier cards such as NVIDIA’s RTX 3080 require more than 320 watts and system power of 750 watts. As 150 watts will be enough for most mid-range cards, these usually feature the 6-pin power connector.
The terms “PCI Express cables” or “PEG cables” (for PCI Express Graphics) can also be employed to describe 6-pin connectors.
8-Pin Connector
Although the math might not seem right when compared to the 6-pin connector, the 8-pin connector can deliver 150 watts to a powerful graphics card. If the GPU requires more than 150 watts, it will come with an 8-pin connector or two 6-pin connectors.
As always, there are exceptions. The most voracious graphics cards come with a 6-pin and an 8-pin connector. For example, NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 has both types of connectors. As a result, it has a maximum power consumption of 170 watts.
There are even some exceptional cases where the GPU will have two 8-pin connectors. By adding the numbers together, we get a total of 375 watts, which is an extreme amount. In addition, you still need to power the CPU (another huge energy consumer) and the rest of your PC’s components.
In even rarer cases, enthusiast GPUs require three 8-pin connectors. These are usually the manufacturers’ highest-end models made to provide the best possible cooling and overclocking. An example of such a GPU is the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti LIGHTNING Z.
In any circumstance, it’s certain that your device will have adequate power with a reliable 650 watts PSU. However, if you’re building a gaming setup with an RTX 3080/3090 or wish to be ready for the future (which is nearly impossible), you should choose a more powerful PSU. Take caution as heightened power brings a higher likelihood of excessive heat.
There is also a guideline that the PSU operates optimally when it’s at 50% capacity, but that is a separate topic that should be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
12-Pin Connectors
With the release of NVIDIA’s RTX 3000 series, we were introduced to 12-pin power connectors. This move was made out of necessity as NVIDIA urgently needed the extra power for their most potent cards and came up with a rather elegant solution.
A 12-pin connector is approximately the same size as an 8-pin connector, but it can consume a considerable amount more power. NVIDIA was transparent regarding the availability of PSUs with 12-pin connectors, so it unveiled an adapter that enables two 6-pin connectors to interface with its card’s 12-pin slot.
Adapters Or Converters For Connectors
There are often interoperability issues when building a PC, and power connectors are no different. Fortunately, computers are made by engineers who like to alter hardware that isn’t suited to their needs by default.
A company called Molex pioneered these pin connectors all the way back in the late 50s and early 60s, and it has since become equivalent with the term. Don’t be astonished if you hear these being referred to as Molex Adapters or Molex Converters.
4-Pin Molex to 6-Pin PCI-E Adapter Cable
You must utilize this cable if your graphics card needs a 6-pin power connector, but your PSU does not possess it. Generally, it indicates an incredibly old PSU, suggesting it may be time for an upgrade. If you insist on retaining your current PSU, note that this type of adapter occasionally necessitates one 4-pin connector, but it is usually two, which is recommended.
4-Pin Molex to 8-Pin PCI-E Power Adapter Cable
This cable uses a twin 4-pin connections and adapts them to an 8-pin connection. 4-pin to 8-pin is something that will probably be advantageous with advanced graphics cards.
6-Pin to 8-Pin PCI-E Adapter Cable
If you’ve recently purchased a high-end GPU, it will likely require an 8-pin connector, which some PSUs might not have. In that case, the 6-pin to 8-pin adapter is your solution.
2x 8-Pin To 12-Pin PCI-E Adapter Cable
As mentioned earlier, the 12-pin power connector is the latest technology necessary for NVIDIA’s 3000 series graphics cards. Because there were relatively few PSUs with a 12-pin power connector on the launch of the 3000 series, NVIDIA included a dual 8-pin to 12-pin adapter with its goods.
SATA to 6-Pin PCI-E Adapter Cable
This cable converts your SATA connectors to a 6-pin connector, but this is generally cautioned against. There is a possibility that SATA won’t be able to handle the power that your graphics card needs, and this is not something that you want to encounter, especially if the cable is labeled as “SATA only“.
SATA to 8-Pin PCI-E Adapter Cable
SATA can also be altered for an 8-pin power connector. In this situation, there will be two SATA ports for one 8-pin connector.
Important Note About Adapters
In most cases, it’s best to upgrade your PSU if you lack connectors, as older PSUs weren’t built with current power requirements in mind. If feasible, it’s optimal to use Molex to Molex for your GPU needs, as they have thicker wires and can transfer more current. A SATA to Molex adapter could be exposed and lead to malfunction if the GPU draws more power with a higher load or by overclocking.
