Two 8-pin CPU headers?

[SGM]

My ASRock Z97 Extreme9 comes with two 8-pin CPU headers while other boards I've looked at (such as the Extreme6 or Extreme4) only have 1.

My PSU has two 8-pin CPU cables (one comes pre-attached in a 4+4 pin arrangement and the other is a special 8-pin cable that has 10 pins at the PSU end) but I've removed one because it was in the way of my H100i (with 4 fans attached).

Since all of the boards are compatible with all LGA 1150 socket CPUs I'm assuming you only need 1 for it to work so what is the purpose of the second header?

Thanks.

[H4X3R]

For more power to the CPU if you are intense overclocker. Just plug in both (won't matter, just if 1 fails, the other will be used...redundancy for the avg user i guess).

[costacis21]

the 2nd 8pin connector is for extra power if you are doing extreme ocing with liquid nitrogen. But refer to your mobo's manual do be sure!!

[Mojo-Jojo]

My ASRock Z97 Extreme9 comes with two 8-pin CPU headers while other boards I've looked at (such as the Extreme6 or Extreme4) only have 1.

My PSU has two 8-pin CPU cables (one comes pre-attached in a 4+4 pin arrangement and the other is a special 8-pin cable that has 10 pins at the PSU end) but I've removed one because it was in the way of my H100i (with 4 fans attached).

Since all of the boards are compatible with all LGA 1150 socket CPUs I'm assuming you only need 1 for it to work so what is the purpose of the second header?

Thanks.

The more you overclock, the more power the CPU will use. You see this when you increase your voltage.

However with voltage increase comes current increase. Current can cause heat in cables (energy loss, cause every cable has inherent resistance.)

 

To combat this, many cables are thicker and redundant (for example, multiple cables for positive and multiple cables for negative terminals)

However, headers can only have limited current capability without becoming thicker, so the extra header can basically improve maximum current transfer.

 

You'll probably not need this at all; I'm pretty sure 8pin is already redundant enough.

[Aniallation]

My ASRock Z97 Extreme9 comes with two 8-pin CPU headers while other boards I've looked at (such as the Extreme6 or Extreme4) only have 1.

It's for high end overclocking. Generally if you're pulling more then 200W from the socket you'll want more then an 8-pin connector, but unless you're doing extreme overclocks you won't ever need more then the EPS12V connector on it's own on an Intel board. If you're running an FX-9590 or something then I'd recommend it but definitely not for an 1150 platform.

[SGM]

Ok, thanks for the replies!