[SOLVED] i9 9900K 4+8 pin power - should I connect both?

[stjepan.herceg]

I'm using an i9 9900k CPU and a Corsair AX1200i PSU. My motherboard (GA Z390 Designare) features 4+8 pin power connections for the CPU. Do I need both or is the 8 pin alone sufficient for moderate overclocking? If I do have to connect both: I don't have a single 4 pin port on the PSU, only 4+4 ports. Should I plug in a 4+4 pin cable into an 8 pin port on the PSU and then split it and use only one 4 pin for the CPU and isolate the other 4 pin?

 

[Supahos]

Plug them both in as mentioned in the last part of your post. Those things need lots and lots of power

 

[rgd1101]

make and model of the PSU?

 

[Supahos]

Corsair AX1200i

 

[stjepan.herceg]

Just to be sure that I don't f up the 4 pin part: PSU (8 pin port) ----> splittable 4+4 pin cable -----> 1x4 pin extra CPU power / 1x4pin isolated (hanging etc.)? Can the extra 4 pin just float in the air or do I need to take additional saftey measures?

Would that be the way to go?

 

[luckymatt42]

You do NOT need the extra 4-pin unless you are doing EXTREME overclocking (think liquid nitrogen). The 8 pin will provide more than enough power. It is safe to leave the 4 pin "hanging", but if you want extra safety you could wrap it with electrical tape or something.

 

[stjepan.herceg]

You do NOT need the extra 4-pin unless you are doing EXTREME overclocking (think liquid nitrogen). The 8 pin will provide more than enough power. It is safe to leave the 4 pin "hanging", but if you want extra safety you could wrap it with electrical tape or something.

Does this still apply to the 9900K? It seems to be the power hungriest CPU out there and to overclock it would mean even more current draw.

About the PSU ports: Are all 8pin ports the same (same current and voltage) or does it matter where I plug in the CPU 8pin versus the gpu 8pin? I only see numbers above the ports and the manual does not explain anything in that regard...

 

[The Original Ralph]

I"m not electrically literate but i still recall the last time this issue came up, some folks screamed (in all caps) that the guage of the wire in the 8 pin connector was good for iirc, 235 watts and the cpu's max draw was 215 watts. Then i noticed TOm's in their review, with all cores at 5.0 in one of their tests measured 250 watt draw - and they were not OCing with LN,

so i called tech support at MSI - the tech i got hold of said simply, those two ports are feeding more than the CPU, ie the ram and other components on the motherboard.

FWIW, this was my Fred Flintstone analysis

GIven TOm's measured a 250 draw, i connected a cable to the 2nd port. No magic smoke came out of the case or from the motherboard

 

[luckymatt42]

There is certainly no harm in plugging in both! That's really more for folks with psu's without an extra 4-pin OR those who want to cut down on unnecessary cable clutter.