Question Should I use 1 or 2 cables for my gpu?

[magzzy124]

I am just wondering about things that seasonic made clear in their manual.
And that was that if your gpu is over 225 W tdp you should use 2 seperate pcie cables.
My question is: Can I use 2 seperate cables for low end gpus(like RX 580), that are under 225w TDP?
Just so that I dont have to think about the GPU TDP in the future.

 

[Wolfshadw]

If the graphics card has two separate PCIE power ports, then yes. You can use two separate cables to power it.

-Wolf sends

 

[SkyNetRising]

My question is: Can I use 2 seperate cables for low end gpus(like RX 580), that are under 225w TDP?

RX 580 usually has only single 8pin PCIE power connector.
How would you use 2 PCIE power cables then?

 

[geofelt]

You can, but you need not.
If your gpu has two 6 or 8 pin power ports, by all means go ahead and use two cables if you anticipate a future gpu upgrade.
The benefit is that you do not need to run a second cable whe you upgrade the gpu.

OTOH, running a second psu cable is really not a big deal later

The underlying theory is that while a single cable could make two 8 pin connections at 150w each, that amount of power may be too much for a single cable.
Then, why do psu makers offer the option?
That is to allow two 6 pin connectors or an 8 and a 6 pin connection.
I think increasingly, modular power supplies will come with more connections at the psu end and a single 6+2 connection at the gpu end.
It allows thinner, more flexible cabling.
I noticed this on my newest psu, a Seasonic Prime PX-850w.