Buying a graphics card to get the best gameplay is one thing but connecting it to the right power supply is a whole another dimension. In fact, the latter affects the former so much so that it can reduce the card’s rendering power altogether.
Therefore, before buying a card, you need to know if your motherboard has the right components to support it. The next thing is to find answers to how to connect Graphics Card to Power Supply?.
What Cable Connects GPU to PSU?
Before I begin telling you how to connect a GPU to PSU, you should first know about the different power consumption requirements of one. This is important because if your GPU does not get the required power, it won’t perform well. In fact, the PC might not start at all.
1. PCI X16 Connector
Standard GPUs with low- to mid-range abilities use this connection to get at least 75 watts of power. To meet that, standard motherboards come with the same PCI x16 slot. So, there’s no need to get any external connectors.
2. 6-Pin Connector
For an additional power of 75 watts, gamers like you connect a separate 6-pin connector to the PSU.
3. 8-Pin Connector
Either use two 6-pin connectors or one 8-pin connector if your card requires an additional 150 watts. An example of a card that may require this much power is the RTX 3060.
4. 12-Pin Connector
What better way to satisfy the hunger of power-hungry cards than using a 12-pin connector? NVIDIA’s smart move has saved us from using more connectors but a single one that checks all the boxes.
How to Know The Wattage of Your Power Supply?
The knowledge of power connectors and their wattage is crucial. However, if you don’t know how much watts your power supply churns out, it’s all in vain.
- Open the case of your PC.
- Locate the PCI x16 slot.
- There should be a power sticker somewhere that lists all the information.
- Read that sticker out and see how much power it provides.
- Next, search online about the power consumption of your card.
- See if the existing PCI x16 slot would be enough.
- If not, look at how many 6-pin or 8-pin power connectors are available.
- Buy the connectors as per the requirement. I’ve listed how much wattage each pin type produces.
Connecting the Graphics Card to Power Supply
Step 1: Shut down your PC. Make sure any type of power is removed from it before you open it up and start meddling with the card slot.
Step 2: Locate where you’ve initially inserted your old card. Or, if this is your first time inserting one, locate the PCI x16 slot. It should be near your processor.
Step 3: Make room for the card by removing any blockage in the way of the slot such as that posed by loose wires.
Step 4: Insert the card into the slot and secure it with the help of plastic latches at the end of it.
Step 5: Take a Phillips screwdriver and secure the card’s bracket over. Screw in the screws.
Step 6: Connect 6-pin or 8-pin power connectors if your card requires more wattage. These connectors lie in the vicinity, so there shouldn’t be any problem in finding them.
Additional steps if you have an old GPU that needs removing before inserting the new one:
Step 1: Undo the plastic latch located to the end.
Step 2: Unscrew all the screws that secure its plastic or steel cover. Gently remove it once done.
Step 3: Remove the card from the PCI x16 slot before entering the new one.
Does the graphics card plug into the power supply?
Since a Graphics card is the main component of a computer and without it, booting your PC isn’t possible. This is why you would be needing the PCI-E connectors from the Power Supply to power your graphics card. Just make sure your power supply has appropriate 8 pins or 6+2 Pin PCI-E connectors to provide power.
What cable connects GPU to PSU?
An 8 Pin or 6+2 Pin PCI Express X 16 connector cord is required from the power supply to ensure electricity can pass through the GPU. In order to power Nvidia 3080 and 3090, however, you will need 3 x 8 Pin PCI-E for the beastly graphics card.
Where do you plug a graphics card in?
A dedicated Graphics Card can be plugged into the PCI-E slot of the motherboard which is located right below the Processor and RAM. Gently, push your graphics card into the PCI-E slot until you hear a “Click” sound. Make sure you align the ports of your graphics card adjacent to your back panel so you can connect your cables easily.
Conclusion
Before connecting the graphics card supply to the power supply, you must understand and know the power requirement of your GPU. Normally, the PCI x16 slot in motherboards offers 75 watts of power, which is enough for most GPUs.
If your card requires additional power, you may want to connect a 6-pin or 8-pin connector to the PSU. Only then, your card will realize its full potential. Readout and follow the steps shown above to connect the card to the power supply the right way.
