GPU Using Daisy-Chained Power Cable (GPU_POWER_CABLE_DAISY_CHAIN)
What is this error?
GPU is powered by a single PSU cable using the daisy-chain pigtail connector instead of separate individual cables, which can cause voltage drops under load, crashes, or even cable damage.
Common causes
- using one cable with two 8-pin connectors instead of two separate cables from PSU
- PSU only came with one PCIe power cable
- user unaware daisy-chain is a problem for high-power GPUs
- cable management preference for fewer cables
How to fix it
- Use one dedicated PSU cable per 8-pin GPU connector
- check PSU cable box for additional PCIe cables
Too many steps? Crashless can diagnose this automatically — checks your drivers, temps, VRAM, and 400+ known error patterns.
Get free AI diagnosis Detailed analysis
If your GPU crashes under heavy load with no BSOD (just a black screen or instant reboot), check your power cables. Look at the cables going from your PSU to your GPU. If your GPU has two or three 8-pin power connectors, each one should have its own separate cable running all the way back to the PSU. If you see one cable that splits into two 8-pin connectors (a Y-shape or daisy-chain), that is the problem. A single PCIe power cable and its wires are rated for about 150W. A GPU with two 8-pin connectors can draw 300W+, but through a daisy-chain it all flows through one cable's wires, causing voltage drop and heat. You can verify the issue with HWiNFO64 — check the GPU's 12V voltage reading while gaming. If it drops below 11.4V under load, your GPU is being starved. The fix: check your PSU box for extra PCIe power cables (most modular PSUs include them). Run one dedicated cable per GPU power connector. If your PSU does not have enough PCIe outputs, it might not be rated to properly power your GPU. For RTX 4070 Ti and above, separate cables are basically mandatory. For 12VHPWR/12V-2x6 connectors, always use the proper adapter or native cable — never daisy-chain adapters.
When to seek help
If this error keeps happening after trying the fixes above, it may point to a deeper hardware or system issue. Consider professional help if:
- The crash occurs across multiple games or applications
- You see the same error after a clean Windows install
- Your PC is less than a year old (could be a warranty issue)
- You smell burning or hear unusual sounds from your PC
Or let Crashless do the deep analysis for you -- our AI checks drivers, temps, event logs, and 400+ known patterns automatically.
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