TUF RTX 50700 TI - Red LED next to 12V 2x6 Connector

[BillBittel]

I recently purchased a TUF RTX 5070TI and just installed it in my system. It is replacing a TUF RTX 3080 OC which used 2 x 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The 5070 TI came with a 12V 2x6 to 3 x 8-pin connector adapter, so I will have to add a third 8-pin PCIe power cable from my PSU to the third leg of the 12V 2x6 to 3 x 8-pin adapter. Getting to the back of my PSU to plug the third 8-pin connector is going to be difficult. I thought it would be OK to power up with only 2 x 8-pin PCIE power cables plugged into the adapter but when I turned on the PSU power switch, the red LED next to the 12V 2x6 power connector on the GPU lit up. I think this means that the GPU can detect that there is nothing plugged into the third 8-pin connector on the adapter. I am not planning to play any games or do any stress tests before adding the third 8-pin power cable. I just want to power up long enough to ensure the GPU is working and not missing any ROPs. Can I safely do this or do I have to add the third 8-pin power cable first before powering up the GPU at all?

[Nate152]

Hello Billbittel

To ensure functionality and stability, you'll want to add the third pcie power cable.

[BillBittel]

Yes I know that and intend to do so. As I explained in my post, I just want to power up long enough to confirm the GPU works and has all its ROPs. I asked the same question in the NVidia Reddit and was told the red LED would light up while in standby if the Asus provided 12V 2x6 to 3 x 8-pin adapter is used, even after adding the third 8-pin power cable. THIS LINK  was provided to a thread in the ROG forum where the Community Administrator @MasterC stated that the red LED would not turn on in standby only if a 12V 2x6 power cable is connected directly from the PSU to the GPU. This seems strange to me as I don’t understand how the GPU could sense that a 12V 2x6 power cable straight to the PSU is being used instead of the factory-provided adapter and 3 x 8-pin power cables. Can you please confirm if this information is accurate?

With all the hysteria about the 12V HPWR and 12V 2x6 power connectors melting, it would be nice if Asus provided a description of exactly what this red LED means and under what conditions it turns on. There was no mention of this LED in any of the papers in the box or the downloads available at the Asus support site. I stated in my post that I am not planning to play any games or do any stress tests before adding the third 8-pin power cable, so it is clear that I intend to add the third power cable.

Perhaps instead of telling me something it is clear I already know, can you please explain what the red LED means and under what conditions it will turn on? Now, based on the explanation in the ROG forum from  Community Administrator @MasterC,  I am expecting the red LED will still turn on during standby even after adding the third power cable. If the information provided by Community Administrator @MasterC in the thread at the link I provided is NOT correct, please explain under what conditions the red LED turns on, and if it will turn on if I am using the Asus-provided adapter even after I add the third power cable. If the information provided by Community Administrator @MasterC IS correct for the TUF RTX 5070TI OC Edition GPU, please confirm that the information is correct. Thank You.

[Nate152 · Accepted solution]

If the 5000 series gpu's are done the same as the 4000 series, go by this chart.

[BillBittel]

Thank you. I don't know where you got this but it is exactly what I needed. It does not list any RTX5000 series GPUs but I assume the behavior of the Red LED is the same. I suggest Asus include this information with the other printed information that comes in the box and in the 2-page per language manual that is available on the Asus Support site for the product.

[MasterC]

Thanks for the feedback, we have a quick guide in the forum (behavior is the same for the 5000 series). Will let people know internally about making the behavior clearer documentation.