One cable with 8pin+8pin vs 2 cables with 8 pin?

Monkeyboysteve · 25 Aug 2019 at 15:00

Probably a stupid question.

But my grapics card requires 2 8pin connectors, is there any difference in using one cable that has 2x8pin connectors over using two seperate cables from the PSU?

I have a corsair 850 HX fully modular and it's a 1080ti (in case it matters)

LeMson · 25 Aug 2019 at 16:53

Best practice to use 2 separate ones

Panos · 25 Aug 2019 at 18:20

Monkeyboysteve said:
Probably a stupid question.

But my grapics card requires 2 8pin connectors, is there any difference in using one cable that has 2x8pin connectors over using two seperate cables from the PSU?

I have a corsair 850 HX fully modular and it's a 1080ti (in case it matters)

Never use splitters on GPUs these days.

andy_mk3 · 25 Aug 2019 at 18:21

Use 2.

Mine refuses to boot with 2 off one cable.

Monkeyboysteve · 25 Aug 2019 at 19:21

Panos said:
Never use splitters on GPUs these days.

It's not a splitter, my corsair cables have 2 8 pins on each cable. so didnt know if they were designed with two cables within one or something.

Panos · 25 Aug 2019 at 19:28

Monkeyboysteve said:
It's not a splitter, my corsair cables have 2 8 pins on each cable. so didnt know if they were designed with two cables within one or something.

Same thing. Use 2 individual 8 pins from the PSU

Monkeyboysteve · 25 Aug 2019 at 20:17

Cool. Will change it round when I get my new case.

Firestar_3x · 25 Aug 2019 at 20:30

Corsair HX1200i 2x 1080ti single lead, no issues
Corsair RM1000x 1x 1080ti single lead, no issues
EVGA 650G2 1x 1080ti single lead, no issues

A single lead is rated for over 300w, it isn't an issue, running 2 however can gain you a minimal max overclock advantage.

Kaapstad · 25 Aug 2019 at 20:48

Monkeyboysteve said:
It's not a splitter, my corsair cables have 2 8 pins on each cable. so didnt know if they were designed with two cables within one or something.

Really bad practice to use them.

Just use two single cables.

AMD had to issue warnings with one of its cards as the dual cables were dangerous.

Zefan · 25 Aug 2019 at 20:52

Nothing wrong with using two from the same cable, hell, I power an 8+8 GPU with an 8 and a 6 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ what's a couple of ground pins between friends eh?

Monkeyboysteve · 25 Aug 2019 at 21:07

I just don't understand why Corsair etc have the cable with 2x8 pins if they aren't recommended.

Is this peoplrs opinions or is there any actual facts behind separate cables being better?
Obviously I want to do it right thats why I asked. Just want some sources. I still remember one guy on Reddit that tried to convince everyone that vertical gpus ran cooler because the fans would get more air.

Firestar_3x · 25 Aug 2019 at 21:12

From a Corsair Rep:

Yup, those are pig tail PCI-E(6+8pin) connector, in which will be able to handle a power draw up to 300W, so you'll be fine with one cable to one card.

Each 8pin PCIE plug is rated at 150w, 18awg cable is rated to ~360w.

Depends on the max power draw of your card, using two cables will give you more overhead, but also looks more of a mess.

Troezar · 25 Aug 2019 at 21:16

Monkeyboysteve said:
I just don't understand why Corsair etc have the cable with 2x8 pins if they aren't recommended.

Is this peoplrs opinions or is there any actual facts behind separate cables being better?
Obviously I want to do it right thats why I asked. Just want some sources. I still remember one guy on Reddit that tried to convince everyone that vertical gpus ran cooler because the fans would get more air.

Only way to be sure is try both yourself

GPUs draw a lot of power, logic says to me a cable supplying only half the required amount will have an easier time than one supplying all of it.

Spook187 · 25 Aug 2019 at 21:16

Never had a problem with my corsair splitters, will continue to use them even on my new build.

Monkeyboysteve · 25 Aug 2019 at 21:36

Spook187 said:
Never had a problem with my corsair splitters, will continue to use them even on my new build.

Surely they wouldnt make cables like that if they were bad?

Firestar_3x · 25 Aug 2019 at 21:45

The cable can handle more wattage than the plugs are rated for, it is upto the GPU maker to make sure the card is operating within spec.

BoomAM · 25 Aug 2019 at 22:11

Its only bad practice if your PSU cant provide stable current over one cable, or the cables themselves are poor quality.
Assuming the cables are half decent, as long as the PSU can give the current over the cable its fine.

In-fact, most PSU's i believe dont separate the rails, so all two cables does is provide 'protection' against poor quality cables.

Spook187 · 25 Aug 2019 at 23:17

Monkeyboysteve said:
Surely they wouldnt make cables like that if they were bad?

Aye, that's why I only buy corsair psu, never been let down

Monkeyboysteve · 25 Aug 2019 at 23:22

Spook187 said:
Aye, that's why I only buy corsair psu, never been let down

Same. My last unit was 8 years old and still going strong. Didn't really want to see how long it would last though lol. It had a 7 year warranty so they obviously trusted it as well.

Spook187 · 25 Aug 2019 at 23:40

Monkeyboysteve said:
Same. My last unit was 8 years old and still going strong. Didn't really want to see how long it would last though lol. It had a 7 year warranty so they obviously trusted it as well.

Yup same as me, Had my axi 860 since 2012, my new build I've put the hxi 1000 in, still a platinum psu so I'm not worried about the cable splitter setup, will continue to use that method