Best Graphics Cards That Don’T Need External Power? All Answers

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What GPU does not need external power?

Here are a few examples of GPUs that don’t require any external power: GT 1030, GTX 1050 2GB variant, RX 550, RX 460, and many others. As none of these GPUs have a lot of processing power, they don’t need more than 75 watts of power.

Can I run graphics card without power supply?

Your graphics card will not run unless you connect it to a PSU. Most gaming-grade graphics cards require additional power connectors. … Your graphics card will not work correctly without the correct power supply. In fact, if you do not connect those PCI-E power cables, your PC may not boot.

Does GTX 1060 require external power?

GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card requires one 6-pin PCI Express power plugs from the system power supply.

Does RTX 3050 require external power?

Yes, it will work just fine as they both have a recommended PSU size of 250W. The issue you will run into is that the RTX 3050 requires an external 6 pin power connector where the GTX 1050 ti doesn’t require external power at all if I remember correctly.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

Hi everyone, I’m upgrading my PC and looking for an RTX 3050, but I have a question.

Will my PSU be good enough to run it without problems? it is an “EVGA 600GD Gold”. It ran my 1050 ti with no issues, but I understand that uses a lot less power.

The packaging also says “delivers up to 50A / 600W on the +12V rail”.

My other PC specs that may affect power delivery:

i5-12500 + 16GB DDR4 RAM

ATX motherboard with b660 chipset

Is that enough for a 3050? If necessary I can send photos of the power supply box.

Thanks Sam

Does GT 1030 need external power?

Gt 1030 is a low power card. All it needs is a pci e power.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

I’m going to buy a Gigabyte GT 1030 OC Edition.

Does this require a PCIe cable to connect to the PSU?

By the way, I don’t have a PCIe cable in my PSU, what to do?

Does 1660 TI need external power?

We rate this card at a ~116 Watt TDP in its out of the box configuration. Here is our power supply recommendation: GeForce GTX 1660 Ti – On your average system we’d recommend a 450 Watt power supply unit.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

hardware installation

Installing one of the AMD Radeon cards is really easy. Once the card is inserted into the PC, make sure to connect the monitor and of course any external power connectors such as 6 and/or 8 pin PEG power connectors. Preferably get a power supply that has these PCIe PEG connectors natively.

Once this is done, we boot into Windows, install the latest drivers and after a reboot everything should work. No further configuration is needed or required unless you want to tweak the settings for which you can open the NVIDIA Control Panel.

power consumption

Let’s take a look at how much power consumption we measure with this graphics card installed. The methodology: We have a device that constantly monitors the power consumption of the PC. We stress the GPU as much as possible and the processor as little as possible. The before and after wattage tells us roughly how much power a graphics card is using under load. Our test system is based on an eight-core Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition setup on the X99 chipset platform. This setup is overclocked to 4.20 GHz on all cores. We also disabled power saving features for this motherboard and processor (to ensure consistent benchmark results). We calculate GPU power consumption here, not total PC power consumption.

Measured power consumption

Keep in mind that system performance is measured at the wall outlet and there are other variables such as power supply efficiency. So that’s an estimate, albeit a very good one. Below is a graph of relative power consumption. Again, the wattage shown is the card with 100% GPUs loaded, showing only the maximum GPU power draw, not the overall PC power draw, and not the average power draw while gaming.

We rate this card at ~116 watts TDP in the default configuration. Here is our power supply recommendation:

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti – On an average system, we recommend a 450-watt PSU.

If you’re looking to overclock your GPU or processor, we recommend getting something with a bit more stamina. Also, your power supply is most energy efficient at half power supply load (50% utilization). There are many good power supplies out there, please take a look at our many power supply reviews as we have loads of recommended power supplies for you to try. Let’s move on to the next page where we look at the GPU heat and noise levels of this graphics card.

Does a GTX 1050 Ti need external power?

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is a very capable graphics card and most versions of it require a dedicated external power source but MSI’s Version doesn’t require any external power connector and all it needs is a 300W PSU. GTX 1050 Ti is the successor to the GTX 1050 and it is 30% faster than its predecessor.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

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Does RX 570 require external power?

Typical usage draws around 150W, with AMD advising a minimum rating of 450W for your PC’s power supply. However, this can vary depending on the particular model of RX 570 and some models may require an 8-pin external power connector, while others can get by drawing power directly from the motherboard.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

Whether it’s with 4GB or 8GB of RAM, AMD’s Radeon RX 570 offers more than enough power for smooth, high-fidelity gaming at 1080p.

Radeon RX 570 at a Glance How powerful is the RX 570? The RX 570 offers high-end graphics and performance at 1080p for most modern games.

When did the RX 570 come out? AMD released the RX 570 on April 18, 2017.

How much does the RX 570 cost? Pricing for the RX 570 starts at around $380 for the 4GB version and $460 for the 8GB version.

What is the RX 570?

The RX 570 is AMD’s answer to Nvidia’s GTX 1060 graphics card. Like its competitor, the RX 570 sits in the mid-range between budget cards like the GTX 1050 and RX 560 and high-end models like the GTX 1070 and RX VEGA 56. This puts its performance at the top tier of 1080p, where it is in modern games can regularly maintain 60 fps with settings cranked up to the max.

Unlike the GTX 1060, which comes in 3GB and 6GB versions, the RX 570 is available with either 4GB or 8GB of GDDR5 RAM. This RAM operates on a 256-bit memory bus at speeds of up to 7Gbps. On the GPU front, the stock RX 570 clocks at a base speed of 1168MHz with the ability to boost up to 1244MHz.

The performance requirements for the RX 570 are slightly higher than their Nvidia counterpart. Typical usage consumes around 150W, with AMD recommending a minimum of 450W to power your PC. However, this may vary by RX 570 model, and some models may require an 8-pin external power connector, while others can be powered directly from the motherboard.

What features does the RX 570 support?

The Radeon RX 500 Series has a number of additional features designed to enhance your gaming, streaming or any other form of computer entertainment experience. Highlights include:

Radeon Chill adaptive power saving technology

Eyefinity Multi-Display Technology

Virtual super-resolution supersampling

The Vulkan API supports the recording software Radeon ReLive

FreeSync

LiquidVR

DirectX 12 HDCP 2.2

HDMI 2.0b

DisplayPort 1.4 HDR

TressFX hair physics

How powerful is the RX 570?

AMD has 1080p firmly in its sights with the RX 570. Thanks to the solid specs, the mid-range graphics card has little trouble hitting a silky-smooth 60 fps at 1080p in most current games, even with the graphics settings cranked up to Very High or Ultra.

If you’ve got yourself a flashy 1440p monitor then the RX 570 remains a viable option too. It struggles to maintain a flawless 60fps in some of the more demanding games, but dropping some settings to high tends to eliminate most performance issues.

The RX 570 is AMD’s most affordable Radeon RX 500 series to meet the minimum specs for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift VR headsets, and as such represents a reasonably affordable entry into virtual reality. Just because it meets the minimum specs , that doesn’t mean it offers a smooth experience. Since VR is one of the most power-hungry tasks a graphics card can handle, the RX 570 may have no trouble with some games and struggle or prove deadly incompatible with others. Keep this in mind if you plan to jump into virtual reality.

RX 570 availability and price

Like the rest of the Radeon RX 500 series, the RX 570 was launched on April 18, 2017. If you’re looking to grab one, you can usually find the 4GB model between $380 and $450, while the 8GB version usually hovers around the $460 to $500 mark.

RX 570 specifications

Does GTX 560 need external power?

The minimum power supply requirement for the 560 is 450w and you can use the one 6 pin that comes with the power supply and the adaptor.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812887001The GTX 560 graphics card requires two 6-pin power cables to function. The links above show which cables will most likely come with the card, and you can take one of them to make the second 6-pin connector. There’s also a splitter cable that lets you make two connections out of one. You may not be able to buy it from Newegg, but the links are for reference to see what you need. If you can afford it you can buy a power supply with two 6 pin connectors or if not you can use the adapters.

Does the GTX 750 need external power?

No, it does not have extra power connections.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

Does the EVGA 750Ti SC 2GB DDR5 require external power from the PSU or can I just plug it into the PCI 16x slot and it will work?

Does RX 580 need external power?

AMD Radeon RX 570 – On your average system the card requires you to have a 450 Watt power supply unit as minimum. AMD Radeon RX 580 – On your average system the card requires you to have a 500 Watt power supply unit as minimum.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

hardware installation

Installing one of the AMD Radeon cards is really easy. Once the card is inserted into the PC, make sure to connect the monitor and of course any external power connectors such as 6 and/or 8 pin PEG power connectors. Preferably get a power supply that has these PCIe PEG connectors natively.

Once that’s done, we boot into Windows, install the latest ATI Catalyst drivers and after a reboot everything should work. No further configuration is required or required unless you want to customize the settings for which you can open the Catalyst Control Center.

The STRIX uses an 8-pin power connector

power consumption

Let’s take a look at how much power consumption we measure with this graphics card installed. The methodology: We have a device that constantly monitors the power consumption of the PC. We simply stress the GPU, not the processor. The before and after wattage tells us roughly how much power a graphics card is using under load. Our test system is based on an eight-core Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition setup on the X99 chipset platform. This setup is clocked at 4.40 GHz on all CPU cores. We also disabled power saving features for this motherboard and processor (to ensure consistent benchmark results). We calculate GPU power consumption here, not total PC power consumption. Keep in mind that system performance is measured at the wall outlet side and there are other variables such as power supply efficiency. So this is a calculated value, not an exact measurement, although a very good one. The wattage shown below is the card with 100% GPU(s) loaded, showing only the maximum GPU power consumption, not the total PC power consumption and not the average power consumption while gaming.

Electricity consumption TDP in KWh Price KWh 2 hour day 4 hour day Graphics card measured TDP 0.219 0.23 0.10 0.20 Costs 5 days per week / 4 hours day € 1.01 Cost per month € 4.37 Cost per Year 5 days week / 4 hours day / € 52.38 Cost per year 5 days week / 4 hours day / $ $ 69.15

This is Guru3D’s generic PSU recommendation for the series:

AMD Radeon RX 570 – On an average system, the card requires at least a 450 watt power supply.

On an average system, the card requires at least a 450 watt power supply. AMD Radeon RX 580 – On an average system, the card requires at least a 500 watt power supply.

If you’re looking to overclock the GPU or processor, we recommend getting something with a little more stamina. There are many good power supplies out there, please take a look at our many power supply reviews as we have loads of recommended power supplies for you to try. What would happen if your PSU couldn’t handle the load:

poor 3D performance

crashing games

Spontaneous reset or impending shutdown of the PC

Freeze during gameplay

Overloading the power supply can lead to failure

Let’s move on to the next page where we look at the GPU heat and noise levels of this graphics card.

What power supply does a GTX 1660 need?

Recommended 400W Power Supplies
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Specifications
Power Draw (TDP) 120W
Memory Size 6GB
Memory Type GDDR5
Lithography 12nm

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

You need a power supply with at least 350W

Which power supply fits the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660?

You need a power supply with at least 350W

What are the power supply requirements for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660?

The minimum power supply requirements for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 are a power supply unit with a power rating of at least 350 W

Add CPU AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Cores, 3.7-4.6GHz, 32MB L3, 65W TDP SELECT AMD Ryzen 7 5800X Cores, 3.8-4.7GHz, 32MB L3, 105W TDP 65W TDP SELECT Intel Core i7-12700K Cores, 3.6-5GHz, 25MB L3, 125W TDP SELECT AMD Ryzen 9 5900X Cores, 3.7-4.8GHz, 64MB L3, 105W TDP SELECT Intel Core i5 -12600K Cores, 3.7-4.9GHz, 20MB L3, 125W TDP SELECT AMD Ryzen 5 5600G Cores, 3.9-4.4GHz, 16MB L3, 65W TDP SELECT Intel Core i9-12900K Cores , 3.2-5.2 GHz, 30 MB L3, 125 W TDP SELECT Intel Core i5-10400F cores, 2.9-4 GHz , 12 MB L3, 65 W TDP SELECT AMD Ryzen 9 5950X cores, 3.4- 4.9GHz, 64MB L3, 105W TDP SELECT Intel Core i5-11400F Cores, 2.6-4.4GHz, 12MB L3, 65W TDP SELECT Intel Core i3-10100 Cores, 3.6-4.4GHz , 6MB L3, 65W TDP SELECT AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Cores, 3.6-4.4GHz, 32MB L3, 65W TDP SELECT Intel Core i7-11700K Cores, 3.6-5GHz, 16MB L3, 125W TDP SELECT Intel Core i7-10700K Cores, 3.8-5.1GHz, 16MB L3, 125W TDP SELECT AMD Ryzen 7 5700G Cores, 3.8-4.6GHz, 16MB L3, 65W TDP SELECT

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Does RX 460 need external power?

Known as the MSI Radeon RX 460 2GB/4GB OC, both cards have ditched the external power connector so commonly seen on contemporary graphics processing units (GPUs), which means neither requires more than the 75w that the PCIExpress port is rated for.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

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Known as the MSI Radeon RX 460 2GB/4GB OC, both cards have ditched the external power connector so common on modern graphics processing units (GPUs), meaning neither draws more than the 75W that the PCIExpress port is designed.

Because of this low power consumption, we know that not much heat is emitted either, which is why MSI decided to only use a single fan on these graphics cards, which should keep them cool without being too noisy.

That’s nice to see because, as TechReport points out, many of the RX 470 and 460 examples we’ve seen over the past few weeks have used much larger cooling configurations and often required an additional 6-pin power connector to operate. While this is hardly an issue for most systems, an ultra-compact card like this that runs cool and quiet is an ideal scenario for those looking to build micro PCs with some gaming power.

Judging from early reviews, the RX 460 has enough power under the hood to offer a decent level of performance while maintaining its small footprint – it behaves a bit like a new-gen R9 Nano.

Both of MSI’s new RX 460 use GDDR5 video memory and offer 2GB or 4GB depending on your preference. This memory operates at 7,000MHz, regardless of size, and is paired with a Polaris 11 core, which we’re told increases to 1,210MHz, although MSI’s official site doesn’t detail the base frequency.

In terms of ports, you can expect a DisplayPort version 1.4 and a 2.0b HDMI port alongside a traditional DVI-D port. No pricing information has been released for these cards yet, and there’s no official release date, but we’ll update you when we find out more.

Editor’s Recommendations

Is the RTX 3050 real?

The GeForce RTX 3050 is built with the powerful graphics performance of the NVIDIA Ampere architecture. It offers dedicated 2nd gen RT Cores and 3rd gen Tensor Cores, new streaming multiprocessors, and high-speed G6 memory to tackle the latest games.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

NVIDIA RTX is the most advanced platform for ray tracing and AI technologies revolutionizing the way we play and create. Over 150 top games and applications use RTX to deliver realistic graphics with incredibly fast performance or cutting-edge new AI features like NVIDIA DLSS and NVIDIA Broadcast. RTX is the new standard.

How much will the 3050 cost?

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050: Price and release date

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 launched on January 27, 2022 for a retail price of $249.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

The GeForce RTX 3050 is one of Nvidia’s latest desktop GPUs. In contrast to the premium RTX 3090 Ti, the RTX 3050 is a moderately equipped and affordable entry-level GPU.

In a world where people want to get their hands on cards like the RTX 3080 Ti and RTX 3090, the RTX 3050 is something of a curiosity. A card dedicated to 1080p/60fps gaming is not what most hardcore PC gamers want in 2022. Sure, ray tracing is a great addition, as is DLSS and Nvidia G-Sync, but other than those features, the card isn’t all that impressive on paper.

However, the $249 price tag makes the GPU enticing, especially for people who haven’t been able to get their hands on Nvidia’s RTX 30-series cards due to the never-ending chip shortage. From the moment we saw the GeForce RTX 3050 go on sale it flew off the shelves and is now seemingly sold out in the US and UK.

With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the Nvidia RTX 3050.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 was launched on January 27, 2022 for a retail price of $249. Unfortunately, high demand meant that it sold out fairly quickly, meaning that like the other RTX 30 series graphics cards, it’s difficult to find in stock.

But to help you out we have our guide on where to buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050; Give it a try because you never know when you might stumble upon a quiet replenishment. Although GPU prices have fallen over the past few months, be aware that some cards are grossly inflated.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050: supplies and offers

From the looks of it, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 seems to be sold out pretty much everywhere. But supplies are likely, albeit sporadically. Our product tracker tool below will show all retailers who are stocking the GeForce RTX 3050 and highlight any offers for it – just don’t expect to find a bargain price any time soon.

Today’s Best Geforce RTX 3050 Deals (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) $329.99 (opens in a new tab) View (opens in a New Tab) Reduced Price (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) $1,249 (opens in a new tab) $1,148.95 (opens in a new tab) View (opens in a opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) $1,819 (opens in new tab) View (opens in new tab)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050: Specifications and Performance

The RTX 3050 is said to deliver 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second with ray tracing enabled.

The RTX 3050 is based on the Ampere architecture and uses 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. This is the same memory as in the RTX 3060 Ti. The card has 2,560 CUDA cores with a base clock of 1.55 GHz and a boost clock of 1.78 GHz. It also has a 128-bit memory interface width, which is seen in GPUs targeting 1080p.

(Image credit: Nvidia)

Features like DLSS AI upscaling and Nvidia G-Sync help the card maintain high frame rates even with ray tracing enabled. That means games run silky smooth. Nvidia Reflex paired with G-Sync all but eliminates input latency, making games feel more responsive. Other features like Shadowplay, Broadcast, Freestyle, Highlights and Ansel exist for the esports crowd.

Of course, we’d have to test the RTX 3050’s performance to judge for ourselves, but based on Nvidia’s claims, the card should be suitable for budget gamers.

Below we compare the RTX 3050 to other cards in the RTX 30 series.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 30-series GPUs Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Nvidia CUDA Cores 2,560 3,584 4,864 5,888 8,704 10,496 Boost Clock (GHz) 1.78 1.78 1.67 1.73 1.71 1.70 Memory Size 8GB 12GB 8GB 8GB 10GB 24GB Memory Type GDDR6 GDDR6 GDDR6 GDDR6 GDDR6X GDDR6X Consumption 130W 170W 200W 220W 320W 350W Price $250 $330 $400 $500 $700 $1,500

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050: Outlook

While the RTX 3050 isn’t intended to be a powerhouse graphics card, it should still deliver the 1080p/60fps experience that Nvidia promises – hopefully without messing around with a game’s graphics settings too much.

The asking price of $249 makes it compelling despite its modest specs. And while certain retailers are selling the card well above its MSRP, the fact that it’s not attractive to crypto miners should (theoretically) keep the cost moderate.

It’s difficult to talk about the card’s availability due to ongoing semiconductor shortages, but if things calm down in 2022, as some analysts and reports suggest, it might not be an impossible task.

We’ll bring you more about the RTX 3050 after we’ve had a chance to put it through our own performance tests.

Does the GTX 750 need external power?

No, it does not have extra power connections.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

Does the EVGA 750Ti SC 2GB DDR5 require external power from the PSU or can I just plug it into the PCI 16x slot and it will work?

Does GTX 560 need external power?

The minimum power supply requirement for the 560 is 450w and you can use the one 6 pin that comes with the power supply and the adaptor.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812887001The GTX 560 graphics card requires two 6-pin power cables to function. The links above show which cables will most likely come with the card, and you can take one of them to make the second 6-pin connector. There’s also a splitter cable that lets you make two connections out of one. You may not be able to buy it from Newegg, but the links are for reference to see what you need. If you can afford it you can buy a power supply with two 6 pin connectors or if not you can use the adapters.

Does RX 580 need external power?

AMD Radeon RX 570 – On your average system the card requires you to have a 450 Watt power supply unit as minimum. AMD Radeon RX 580 – On your average system the card requires you to have a 500 Watt power supply unit as minimum.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

hardware installation

Installing one of the AMD Radeon cards is really easy. Once the card is inserted into the PC, make sure to connect the monitor and of course any external power connectors such as 6 and/or 8 pin PEG power connectors. Preferably get a power supply that has these PCIe PEG connectors natively.

Once that’s done, we boot into Windows, install the latest ATI Catalyst drivers and after a reboot everything should work. No further configuration is required or required unless you want to customize the settings for which you can open the Catalyst Control Center.

The STRIX uses an 8-pin power connector

power consumption

Let’s take a look at how much power consumption we measure with this graphics card installed. The methodology: We have a device that constantly monitors the power consumption of the PC. We simply stress the GPU, not the processor. The before and after wattage tells us roughly how much power a graphics card is using under load. Our test system is based on an eight-core Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition setup on the X99 chipset platform. This setup is clocked at 4.40 GHz on all CPU cores. We also disabled power saving features for this motherboard and processor (to ensure consistent benchmark results). We calculate GPU power consumption here, not total PC power consumption. Keep in mind that system performance is measured at the wall outlet side and there are other variables such as power supply efficiency. So this is a calculated value, not an exact measurement, although a very good one. The wattage shown below is the card with 100% GPU(s) loaded, showing only the maximum GPU power consumption, not the total PC power consumption and not the average power consumption while gaming.

Electricity consumption TDP in KWh Price KWh 2 hour day 4 hour day Graphics card measured TDP 0.219 0.23 0.10 0.20 Costs 5 days per week / 4 hours day € 1.01 Cost per month € 4.37 Cost per Year 5 days week / 4 hours day / € 52.38 Cost per year 5 days week / 4 hours day / $ $ 69.15

This is Guru3D’s generic PSU recommendation for the series:

AMD Radeon RX 570 – On an average system, the card requires at least a 450 watt power supply.

On an average system, the card requires at least a 450 watt power supply. AMD Radeon RX 580 – On an average system, the card requires at least a 500 watt power supply.

If you’re looking to overclock the GPU or processor, we recommend getting something with a little more stamina. There are many good power supplies out there, please take a look at our many power supply reviews as we have loads of recommended power supplies for you to try. What would happen if your PSU couldn’t handle the load:

poor 3D performance

crashing games

Spontaneous reset or impending shutdown of the PC

Freeze during gameplay

Overloading the power supply can lead to failure

Let’s move on to the next page where we look at the GPU heat and noise levels of this graphics card.

Does RX 560 need external power?

No, it does not require supplemental power from a 6 or 8 pin connector.

Can a graphics card run without a power supply cable?

No, no additional power supply is required via a 6 or 8 pin plug. So you’re ok in that respect. However, the power supply is incredibly bad. I’m not going to tell you not to use it, but I wouldn’t recommend it either. Chances are the PSU won’t be able to supply even half of its rated capacity and you have a decent chance that either the PSU or something else will fail when using it with this gaming card.

I would look around for a better power supply first.

Top 3 Graphics Cards Without External Power

Top 3 Graphics Cards Without External Power
Top 3 Graphics Cards Without External Power


See some more details on the topic best graphics cards that don’t need external power here:

Graphics Cards That Don’t Require External Power

Our top picks for the best low power graphics cards without external power: The optiplex 390/790/990 all use a 265w power supply. Here are a few examples of …

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Source: cards.udlvirtual.edu.pe

Date Published: 12/2/2021

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Do low profile graphics cards require external power? – Quora

There are low profile and low wattage (no external power) GPUs these days. You have the GT 1030 from Nvia with many low profile options and pretty much all of …

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Source: www.quora.com

Date Published: 4/18/2022

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Best Low Power Graphics Cards: No External Power [2021]

Best Low Power Graphics Cards: No External Power [2021] · Gigabyte GTX 1650 OC Low Profile · MSI GTX 1050 Ti 4GT LP · Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 …

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Source: thegamedrip.com

Date Published: 2/13/2022

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[SOLVED] – Best GPU without external power for prebuilt?

A low profile GTX1650 is about the best GPU you can put in that PC. The PSU isnt amazing. A 1650 might work, but a GT1030 would be a better ea …

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Source: forums.tomshardware.com

Date Published: 3/30/2022

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8 Best Low Power Graphics Cards Without External Power in 2022 – For Every Budget!

Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also work with other affiliate partners and can be compensated using the links below. details here.

You’ve found that you need to replace your graphics card, or you’re looking to upgrade an existing computer for some extra graphics performance and realize you’re stuck with a standard power supply and don’t have expansion power without replacing the power supply. to.

What you need to do is take a look at this list of the 8 best low-power, motherboard-powered, no-power graphics cards of 2022 and choose the best one for your needs.

Best non-powered graphics cards in 2022 – roundup

The table below gives you a quick overview of our selection of the best low-power unpowered graphics cards currently available on the market. To read a full review, simply click on “Review>>” in the appropriate row.

1.MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4GT LPOC

CUDA cores: 896 | Base clock: 1695 MHz | Boost clock: 1695 MHz | Memory: 4GB GDDR5 | Memory clock frequency: 8000 MHz | Power consumption: 75W | Dimensions: 170 x 69 x 42mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

The best performing card in its class

Good price

Low profile form factor

Supports dual monitor setups

Overclocked out of the box

REASONS TO AVOID

memory of the older generation

Our rating: 9.8/10

MSI presents another winner with the MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4GT OC LP.

Without adding an additional power supply, the MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4GT’s performance-to-size ratio is hard to beat. At just 168mm x 69mm x 37mm (with the low-profile mount used), this little marvel is truly impressive.

The MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4GT runs at a boost clock of 1695MHz, making it the fastest GPU on this list. In fact, it’s more than enough to get excellent 1080p graphics on demanding game titles and handle any basic application with ease.

However, something has to give way with the small form factor. With the GTX 1650 4GT you are sacrificing the ability to handle multiple monitors as it only supports a total of 2 monitors.

You will need an HDMI or dual-link DVI connector (or an adapter) for this to work with your monitor setup. Keep this in mind if you have a DisplayPort as the only connection on your monitor. This shouldn’t be a big problem since few monitors have the DisplayPort connector.

You’ll need to buy an HDMI to DisplayPort adapter, just make sure you factor that into your budget.

The MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4GT also supports DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.5.

As with most of the more advanced cards that you will read about here today, the MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4GT comes with 4GB of memory, which allows you to handle almost any application with high performance and play most popular games with high refresh rates at 1080p -Resolution.

You can play movies and view photos at a maximum resolution of 8k, future-proofing for advanced graphics. However, if you’re playing top-end games or simple games at higher refresh rates, I would suggest that you run this and all of the cards here in 1080p resolution so you can use the highest quality settings available.

The MSI GeForce GTX 1650 GT OC also works very well as a backup card with a power requirement of 75 watts, which is recommended for your system to have at least 300 total total watts available to run effectively. Also, the MSI GeForce GTX 1650 GT supports G-Sync technology when paired with a monitor with G-Sync capabilities.

Depending on what you use the card for, this may be a top pick for you. If I’m in a cramped environment and I don’t mind only having a maximum of 2 monitors, the MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4GT LP OC would definitely be my first choice.

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2. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 OC

CUDA cores: 896 | Base clock: 1590 MHz | Boost clock: 1590 MHz | Memory: 4GB GDDR6 | Memory clock frequency: 12000 MHz | Power consumption: 75W | Dimensions: 160 x 111 x 34mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

Top performance in its class

Super fast storage

Comes overclocked

Comes in different form factors

Supports 3 monitor setups

REASONS TO AVOID

none

Our rating: 9.7/10

The ZOTAC Gaming Geforce GTX 1650 OC is a great place to start in your quest for a really nice graphics card that doesn’t require an external power supply to provide a vastly improved graphics experience over the stock graphics card that may have come with your computer and is in need of an upgrade .

This card delivers solid 1080p graphics performance in almost every game title out there. If you use this card for just about any 1080p application, you’ll be satisfied.

The ZOTAC brand is relatively new to the graphics card market, having only been established in 2006 and only just entering the mainstream since the launch of the 10th series of Nvidia Geforce graphics platform.

The ZOTAC Geforce GTX 1650 OC is one of those 10th series cards, recognizable by the first number on the card. It has the low-profile form factor that combined with the low power consumption fits into very compact builds, which can be a deal breaker for some of the cards on this list if you’re dealing with a small form factor application.

At 1.34 inches thick, it’s just right for many uses. If the length of the card is more important, the full dimensions are 160mm x 111.15mm x 34mm or 6.30in x 4.38in x 1.34in.

If you’re upgrading your office workspace and trying to achieve a more powerful multi-monitor setup, the ZOTAC Geforce GTX 1650 OC is for you with its ability to effortlessly manage 3 screens.

The OC at the end of the name indicates that this particular graphics card comes factory overclocked, so you don’t have to adjust your own overclock settings to get a little boost from the Nvidia Geforce 1650 reference cards. The reference is to the original base card, primarily manufactured by Nvidia.

The ZOTAC GTX 1650 OC has a power consumption of 75 watts, but the recommended total system power is 300 watts, so check this to make sure the rest of your PC has enough power to function properly.

When you do very graphics intensive work, memory is always something to consider. The ZOTAC GTX 1650 OC delivers 4GB at 12Gbps performance, which is actually the highest on this list. It’s more than enough for most applications and is only limited to the most demanding memory-intensive activities.

The ZOTAC GTX 1650 OC supports DirectX 12 and also supports Dual Link DVI-D, Display Port 1.4 and HDMI connections. I’ve discussed 1080p performance so far, but the ZOTAC GTX 1650 OC will handle 1440p with no issues. You may experience slower than acceptable frame rates when running the ZOTAC GTX 1650 OC at 1440p high settings while gaming.

The ZOTAC GTX 1650 OC comes in multiple form factors, and it’s not just available in the low-profile form factor I mentioned. Click the button below and you will see all the available variants, all of which come at a reasonable price.

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3. MSI GeForce GTX 1050Ti GAMING X 4G

CUDA cores: 768 | Base clock: 1379 MHz | Boost Clock: 1493MHz | Memory: 4GB GDDR5 | Memory clock frequency: 7108 MHz | Power consumption: 75W | Dimensions: 229 x 131 x 39mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

Payable

Good performance

Highly respected manufacturer

Great for 1080p gaming

REASONS TO AVOID

Older generation

GDDR5 memory only

Our rating: 9.5/10

The MSI GeForce GTX 1050Ti GAMING X 4G is another good option if you’re looking for a nice card that doesn’t require a power adapter, and with a reasonable price tag (if there’s no shortage) that’ll suit many budgets.

MSI (Microstar International) is one of the most recognized quality manufacturers in the field of computer hardware manufacturing. If you’ve ever bought a motherboard or graphics card in the last 10+ years, you’ve surely come across the MSI brand. If you happen to be looking for a cheap motherboard, be sure to check out my Best Motherboards Under $100 article.

The “ti” in the MSI GeForce GTX 1050Ti GAMING X 4G indicates a half series upgrade to the Nvidia GTX 1050 series. While the 1050ti series doesn’t reach the level of the GTX 1650 series, it does a decent job in most applications. With MSI, you’ll enjoy a few different mode selectors that automatically change clock speeds to adapt to the best performance for the purpose.

The MSI GeForce GTX 1050Ti GAMING X 4G operates at 1493MHz / 1379MHz (GPU clock speed) in Overclock mode, 1468MHz / 1354MHz in Gaming mode and 1392MHz / 1290MHz in Silent mode.

As with the GPU, the MSI GeForce GTX 1050 TI GAMING X 4G also overclocks the memory frequencies with a performance of 7108 MHz in overclocked mode and 7008 MHz in both gaming and silent modes.

In terms of dimensions, this card measures 229mm x 131mm x 39mm. While not the smallest card on the list, it fits into many smaller form factor applications. As with many of the cards you will read about in this article, the MSI GeForce GTX 1050Ti GAMING X 4G consumes 75 watts and it is recommended to be used with a total system power supply of at least 300 watts.

The MSI GeForce GTX 1050Ti GAMING X 4G, as the name suggests, comes with 4GB of onboard storage that can handle almost anything but the most demanding gaming titles. It also supports DirectX 12 and supports Dual Link DVI-D, Display Port 1.4 and HDMI connections.

Finally, the MSI GeForce GTX 1050Ti GAMING X 4G supports up to 8k resolution but works best at 1080p for gaming applications or up to 4k for video display applications.

Since the price is very close to the 1650 series cards on this list, I only recommend this card to those who want the added peace of mind of using an established manufacturer.

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4. Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC (Low Profile)

CUDA cores: 768 | Base clock: 1328 MHz | Boost clock: 1442 MHz | Memory: 4GB GDDR5 | Memory clock frequency: 7008 MHz | Power consumption: 75W | Dimensions: 167 x 69 x 37mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

Good performance

Low profile form factor

Competitive pricing

super quiet

REASONS TO AVOID

Older generation card

GDDR5 memory

Our rating: 9.4/10

The Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC is an entry from another of the most respected brands in computer parts manufacturing. If there’s one category where this card stands out, it’s size.

A low profile is very useful in many applications, but this card is also very slim, measuring 167mm x 68.9mm x 37mm. This could definitely be a top choice for you if you have a really small area to deal with on your build/upgrade.

The Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC sports clock rates of 1442 MHz boost clock in OC mode and 1417 MHz in gaming mode and memory clocks register 7008 MHz. Additionally, the Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC comes with 4GB of memory, giving you enough memory to handle almost every application and game out there, except for the most demanding titles.

The Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC can connect up to 4 monitors, but for this you need to use DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI cables. The Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC also supports up to 8k resolution, but while gaming I would recommend you stick to 1080p as upscaling it to higher resolutions could result in choppy performance at higher quality settings.

If you’re upgrading an older card or simply adding a discrete graphics card to your current system, you’ll be amazed at the performance boost you’ll get by adding this card to your system. The Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC runs very quietly and has the ability to turn off the fan during simple loads, which is another advantage when paired with a small case.

It won’t reach the level of the newer generation GTX 1650, but it will work very well for all basic applications and many game titles. If you have to make the decision to upgrade an older card in a narrow form factor, this should be high on your list of options.

The price point of the Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC is not negligible as it is much lower than the cards at the top of the list, putting it in the middle of the field.

Considering the Gigabyte brand, clock speeds, real-world performance, size and price of this device, it’s definitely a contender for the position of one of the better devices here, especially for narrow form factor applications.

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5. Asus GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Phoenix Fan Edition

CUDA cores: 768 | Base clock: 1290 MHz | Boost clock: 1392 MHz | Memory: GDDR5 4GB | Memory clock frequency: 7008 MHz | Power consumption: 75W | Dimensions: 192 x 111 x 37mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

Great cooling solution

build quality

Great 1080p performance

Fair price

Decent place to overclock

REASONS TO AVOID

Occupies two slots

Our rating: 9.3/10

The Asus GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Phoenix Fan Edition is another Pascal series graphics card that does a really good job on all compute/graphics workloads at 1080p, including classic and modern games.

ASUS is one of the most respected manufacturers of computer parts today, so you can be assured of a very well built product.

The “Phoenix Fan” sounds very cool, but what is it? Will it help you with your decision?

It may very well make a difference when you make that decision as it is basically an upgraded fan bearing system that will give you almost twice the lifespan of regular fans. This means less chance for unexpected maintenance and long time to replacement.

With these advances, it still doesn’t replace the improvement you’ll get if you move to next year’s GPU model. If you’re looking for great value, this isn’t a bad place to go near the $150 price point, it’s a great compromise.

The GPU boost clock is 1392MHz with a base clock of 1290MHz and memory speeds of 7008MHz. The Asus GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Phoenix Fan Edition is G-Sync enabled when paired with a compatible monitor, so you can avoid screen tearing.

If you’re trying to fit into a specific application, make sure you consider the dimensions before purchasing. The Asus GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Phoenix Fan Edition is 192mm x 111mm x 37mm in size.

You should make sure you have 2 full slots available to allow for proper GPU cooling. The Asus GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Phoenix Fan Edition has only one fan, so this part is even more important for smooth graphics performance.

The Asus GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Phoenix Fan Edition comes with ASUS GPU Tweak II software, so you can maximize the performance of your new card with a few simple clicks.

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6. MSI Gaming Radeon RX 560 Aero ITX 4G OC

Stream processors: 1024 | Base clock: 1196 MHz | Boost clock: 1196 MHz | Memory: 4GB GDDR5 | Memory clock frequency: 7000 MHz | Power consumption: 60W | Dimensions: 155 x 113 x 39mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

Very low power consumption

Great storage speed

Supports Freesync technology

Pairs well with Ryzen CPUs

REASONS TO AVOID

Worse performance than Nvidia cards

Our rating: 9.2/10

The MSI Gaming Radeon RX 560 is a series more advanced graphics processing unit than the Radeon RX 550 in the Radeon graphics line, however, this unit is manufactured by MSI (Microstar International). Note that MSI is one of the leading brands in the PC building world and is known for its top-of-the-line products.

The MSI Gaming Radeon RX 560 measures 155mm x 113mm x 39mm so will fit in many smaller applications but definitely needs 2 slots to fit. The power used to run this device is 60 watts, however it is recommended that you have a power supply of at least 400 watts to handle the higher spikes and heat generated by the MSI Gaming Radeon RX 560.

The MSI Gaming Radeon RX 560 enables Crossfire bridging technology, which allows you to use multiple GPUs. The MSI Gaming Radeon RX 560 might not deliver the same raw performance as some of the Nvidia platform cards on this list, but in this case Freesync could make all the difference for many people.

With Freesync, you can buy a compatible Freesync monitor and take advantage of the technology to prevent screen tearing. The MSI Gaming Radeon RX 560 supports a total of up to 3 monitors with connectors such as HDMI, DisplayPort and DVI.

The MSI Gaming Radeon RX 560 delivers GPU core clock speeds of up to 1196 MHz and memory clock speeds of 7000 MHz. In general, AMD-based graphics cards are much cheaper than their Nvidia-based counterparts, but with a large number of graphics card models on the market today, it’s just not that easy.

You can easily buy 3 generations of new Nvidia-based cards, so it’s often cheaper to buy an older series Nvidia-based card to get more performance per dollar.

Considering AMD, there are some advantages to how well it pairs with Ryzen processors, but as a standalone device in this price range, I’d lean more towards the Nvidia-based products.

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7. Biostar Radeon RX 550

Stream processors: 512 | Base clock: 1100 MHz | Boost Clock: 1183MHz | Memory: 2GB GDDR5 | Memory clock frequency: 6000 MHz | Power consumption: 60W | Dimensions: 159 x 102 x 38mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

Very low power consumption

Solid budget choice

Supports Freesync technology

Pairs well with Ryzen CPUs

REASONS TO AVOID

Significantly slower than Nvidia counterparts

Our rating: 8.9/10

The Biostar Radeon RX 550 is based on the AMD Radeon platform but, like all the other cards on the list, runs without additional power supplies like many of the more expensive cards do, and is powered entirely by the mainboard (motherboard) power supply via the PCIe -Slot supplied.

The Biostar Radeon RX 550 comes with 2GB of onboard storage, which is half of what the Nvidia-based cards on this list have. A major benefit of Radeon-based cards is the ability to work with AMD Freesync technology. What is Freesync?

AMD Freesync is a technology built into monitors that works in conjunction with the graphics cards to reduce screen tearing and deliver smoother-to-the-eye performance. Does this mean that Nvidia products don’t offer similar technology? No, it doesn’t. Nvidia-based products offer “G-Sync” technology to achieve the same goal.

The AMD Freesync technology that the Biostar Radeon RX 550 offers has the price advantage. AMD Freesync technology has the advantage of being available in many more monitors and at a much lower price.

G-Sync technology costs nearly $100 more per monitor, while AMD Freesync technology, as the name suggests, is a free upgrade. Despite the budget savings, the Freesync capability doesn’t make the Biostar Radeon RX 550 my top pick on this list, as it is significantly outperformed.

For example, the GTX 1650 cards on this list deliver almost 200% the performance over the Biostar Radeon RX 550 according to user-submitted benchmarks. The GPU clocks of the Biostar Radeon RX 550 are between 1100 and 1183 MHz, the memory clocks at 6000 MHz.

Radeon drivers have many reports of issues with drivers compatible with new game titles. The maximum resolution is 4k and supports DirectX 12. Why should you consider the Biostar Radeon RX 550? Price. The Biostar Radeon RX 550 is a really cheap graphics card.

The Biostar Radeon RX 550 states that a 400 watt power supply is required for the system. If you’re an AMD brand loyalist, I’d recommend checking out some of the other options I’ve listed here unless you’re at the top of your budget at $100.

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8. ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 460 4GB OC

Stream processors: 896 | Base clock: 1090 MHz | Boost clock: 1256 MHz | Memory: GDDR5 4GB | Memory clock frequency: 7000 MHz | Power consumption: 60W | Dimensions: 194 x 120 x 35mm

REASONS TO PURCHASE

Ideal for 1080p applications

Excellent budget choice

Supports Freesync technology

Pairs well with Ryzen CPUs

Comes overclocked

REASONS TO AVOID

Slower than Nvidia counterparts

Our rating: 8.7/10

The ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 460 4GB OC is a generation older version of the RX 560, but with the ASUS ROG OC (overclocked) build it’s a really nice card.

ASUS is now considered one of the leading manufacturers of PC parts. The ROG (Republic of Gamers) Strix branding means you’re getting one of the most well-tuned models of any product, so you’re definitely getting a product that’s above the norm.

The product dimensions for the ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 460 4GB OC are 194mm x 120mm x 35mm. So make sure this card fits your application, especially considering the fan heatsink extends to 2 full slots in your device.

The maximum resolution supported in the ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 460 4GB OC is “5k”, if you are not familiar with this resolution, it measures at 5120 x 2880. The ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 460 4GB OC supports Dual -Link DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort connectors and supports DirectX 12.

While you’ll still run on the GDDR5 memory modules compared to many of the GDDR6 units here, you’ll run a little slower, but it’s not a deal-breaker. The ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 460 4GB OC also comes with GPU Tweak II software, which allows you to quickly overclock the device to get the maximum bang for your buck.

The ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 460 4GB OC runs at 1256MHz in overclocked mode and 1236MHz in gaming mode, with 7000MHz in memory speeds. This graphics card does a great job at 1080p gaming and easily handles most other graphics operations. So if you can get your hands on one of these, it’s not a bad deal, but there are better options out there for you.

I would recommend looking around for other options as there is a massive amount of graphics cards for your money. With the upcoming arrival of next generation cards from Nvidia and AMD, pricing in the value for money space will continue to become more competitive.

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Final Verdict

In my opinion, coupled with a lot of stats, there are a few things that are clear.

Today, Nvidia-based cards are crowding out AMD-based cards in terms of overall speed and actually much lower power consumption.

The second thing that’s really clear is that newer models are just a few lifts, but the technological improvements aren’t just skin deep, there are significant performance gains.

With the newer generation Nvidia based cards it’s really a clear choice unless you’re aiming for the lowest cost on the list and I would suggest you really consider the almost $150 price tag, to get a very nice upgrade for under $100 units here.

The MSI GeForce GTX 1650 OC is my pick for three reasons: 1) MSI quality branding and history. 2) it is the latest Nvidia based card model on the list. 3) the low profile and overall size of the card allows it to be used in many applications.

GPU Power Connectors Explained [Simple Answer]

All GPU power connectors may be difficult to understand. Here’s a simple explanation of the 6-pin and 8-pin connectors and how they differ.

An often overlooked but critical factor in building a PC is power consumption. A top-tier graphics card can put too much strain on many PSUs, and that’s something gamers need to avoid. To help you better understand GPU power connectors, we have prepared this guide.

Some low-end and mid-range graphics cards can only use the PCI Express x16 slot as a power source, but more sophisticated cards must use 6-pin or 8-pin PCI Express power connectors.

This can be especially confusing when using a multi-GPU setup, like with SLI. In this case, the power requirement is the sum of two (or more) connected graphics cards.

Let’s start!

Table of ContentsShow

PCI Express x16 connector

Motherboards have the aforementioned PCI Express x16 slot that can deliver a maximum of 75 watts of power. Some have multiple PCI Express x16 slots to connect more GPUs, but as mentioned, this increases power requirements.

Here are some examples of GPUs that do not require external power supply: GT 1030, GTX 1050 2GB variant, RX 550, RX 460 and many others. Since none of these GPUs have much processing power, they do not require more than 75 watts of power.

6 pin connector

A 6 pin connector

This connector can provide the GPU with an additional 75 watts of power. This means that the graphics card uses the PCI Express x16 slot and is also powered directly by the power supply unit.

See also: What power supply do I have?

Although 150 watts is sufficient for most graphics cards, high-end cards like NVIDIA’s RTX 3080 require more than 320 watts and a system power of 750 watts. Since 150 watts is sufficient for most mid-range cards, these usually have the 6-pin power connector.

The terms “PCI Express cable” or “PEG cable” (for PCI Express graphics) can also be used to describe 6-pin connectors.

8 pin connector

An 8-pin connector

Although the math doesn’t seem right compared to the 6-pin connector, the 8-pin connector is capable of delivering 150 watts to a graphics card. If the GPU requires more than 150 watts, it comes with one 8-pin connector or two 6-pin connectors.

As always there are exceptions. The most power-hungry graphics cards come with a 6-pin and an 8-pin connector. NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060, for example, has both types of connectors. This gives it a maximum power consumption of 170 watts.

There are even some exceptional cases where the GPU has two 8-pin connectors. Simply adding up the numbers brings us to a total of 375 watts, but that’s an extreme amount. In addition, you need to power the CPU (which is another big energy consumer) and the rest of your PC’s components.

In even rarer cases, there are enthusiast GPUs that require three 8-pin connectors. These are usually the high-end models from manufacturers, designed for the best possible cooling and overclocking. An example of such a GPU is the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti LIGHTNING Z.

In any case, with a good 650 watt power supply, your machine will be properly supplied. However, if you are building a gaming rig with an RTX 3080/3090 or want to future-proof it (which is almost impossible), you should choose a more powerful PSU. Be careful, because the higher the power, the greater the risk of overheating.

There’s also a rule of thumb that the PSU runs best when it’s 50% loaded, but that’s another topic that should be considered 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 desperately needed the extra performance for its highest performing cards and came up with a rather elegant solution.

A 12-pin connector is about the same size as an 8-pin connector, but can draw much more current. Ready for the availability of power supplies with 12-pin connectors, NVIDIA released an adapter that allows two 6-pin connectors to be connected to its card’s 12-pin slot.

Adapter or converter for connectors

Compatibility issues are common when building a PC, and power connectors are no different. Luckily, computers are made by engineers who are happy to modify hardware that, by default, doesn’t fit their needs.

A company called Molex pioneered these pin connectors in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s and has since become synonymous with the term. Don’t be surprised if you hear these called Molex adapters or Molex converters.

4 pin Molex to 6 pin PCI-E adapter cable

You should use this cable if your graphics card requires a 6-pin power connector but your power supply does not. This is usually a sign of a very old power supply, so it might be time for an upgrade. If you’re determined to keep your existing power adapter, you should know that this type of adapter sometimes requires a 4-pin connector, but more often than not two, which is the recommended option.

4 pin Molex to 8 pin PCI-E power adapter cable

This cable takes two 4-pin connectors and adapts them to one 8-pin connector. 4-pin to 8-pin is something that will likely come in handy in upper mid-range and high-end graphics cards.

6 pin to 8 pin PCI-E adapter cable

If you’ve recently purchased a top-of-the-line GPU, it probably requires an 8-pin connector, which some power supplies may not have. Then the 6-pin to 8-pin adapter is the solution for you.

2x 8-pin to 12-pin PCI-E adapter cable

As previously mentioned, the 12-pin power connector is the latest technology required for NVIDIA 3000 series graphics cards. Since there were relatively few power supplies with a 12-pin power connector when the 3000 series was introduced, NVIDIA included a dual 8-pin to 12-pin adapter with its product.

SATA to 6 pin PCI-E adapter cable

This cable converts your SATA connectors to a 6-pin connector, but it is generally not recommended. There’s a chance that SATA won’t be able to handle the performance required by your graphics card, and this is something you don’t want to encounter, especially if the cable is labeled “SATA Only”.

SATA to 8 pin PCI-E adapter cable

SATA can also be adapted to an 8-pin power connector. In this scenario, there are two SATA connectors for an 8-pin connector.

Important note about adapters

In most cases, it’s best to upgrade your PSU if you’re missing ports, as older PSUs weren’t built with current performance requirements in mind. If possible it’s best to use Molex to Molex for your GPU needs as they have thicker wires and can carry more power. A SATA-to-Molex adapter could be exposed and cause burnout if the GPU draws more power under higher loads or due to overclocking.

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