GUIDE
How to check what connectors your PSU has
Five minutes with the side panel off tells you whether a new graphics card will plug straight in, needs its adapter, or needs a new power supply.
1. Read the label
The sticker on the side of the PSU shows the model name and wattage. Search the exact model on the maker's website: the spec page lists every cable it came with and how many of each. That's the fastest way to get a complete answer.
While you're there, look for ATX 3.0 or ATX 3.1. Units with either almost always include a native 16-pin GPU cable.
2. Know the plugs
| Plug | What it powers | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| 24-pin ATX | Motherboard | The biggest plug. Often splits 20+4. |
| 8-pin EPS (4+4) | CPU | Usually labelled "CPU". Splits into two 4-pin halves side by side. |
| 8-pin PCIe (6+2) | Graphics card | Usually labelled "PCIe" or "VGA". A 2-pin piece clips onto a 6-pin. |
| 16-pin 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 | Newer graphics cards | Small, flat plug with 12 pins in two rows plus 4 tiny pins above. |
| SATA / Molex | Drives, fans, accessories | Flat L-shaped plug / old 4-pin round plug. |
3. Count the PCIe cables, not the plugs
Many PCIe cables split into two 8-pin plugs at the end. For a card that needs two or more 8-pin inputs, or for a 16-pin adapter, what counts is how many separate cables run back to the PSU. On a modular PSU, count the PCIe sockets on the PSU itself.
Each 8-pin PCIe plug is rated for 150W, and the slot on the motherboard adds up to 75W. That's why a 300W card needs at least two 8-pins.
The mix-up that kills hardware
- CPU 8-pin and PCIe 8-pin are not interchangeable. They're keyed differently and carry power on different pins. If one doesn't slide in easily, it's the wrong cable. Never force it.
- Never mix modular cables between PSUs, even from the same brand. The plug at the card end is standard, but the PSU end isn't, and the wrong cable can send 12V down a ground wire.