GPU works without power?

[010]

Ok ok, the title is a clickbait!
My concern is that a GeForce GTX 560 card has 2x PCI 6 power inputs but unlike the internet tells me, it works with only one PCI 6 plugged.
What is the disadvantage of using only one PCI 6?
Will it stop functioning in heavy usage or maybe just be worse in general?

 

[shrapnel_indie]

Ok ok, the title is a clickbait!
My concern is that a GeForce GTX 560 card has 2x PCI 6 power inputs but unlike the internet tells me, it works with only one PCI 6 plugged.
What is the disadvantage of using only one PCI 6?
Will it stop functioning in heavy usage or maybe just be worse in general?

Heavy usage will draw more current than the power cable can handle. It will get HOT, maybe even melting/burning the insulation on the wire. It won't deliver enough power and the GPU will flake out at the least... There is also the potential to burn up the GPU in the process. It's far better to deliver the needed power with the two cables instead of just one.

 

[grimfox]

I feel like it's more likely to throttle if it can't get enough power than it would be to actually set something a-light. But depending on how things are wired on the GPU it might not be able to tell the second plug isn't in use. It would be interesting to start up furmark or something like that and see what would happen. Though I could see why 010 wouldn't want to do that.