PCI Express X1 to x16 risers - powered or not

[Bitcollector]

powered would be better. they will draw power straight from power supply vs going through the CPU with nonpowered ones. electronically makes sense

the power doesn't get drawn threw your CPU.

Doesn't come through the CPU but the mother board is the limitation. Do a little reading about your mother board on the net, their is a lot of articles about this, and they have listings of what boards can drive what.

If your nervous about doing 3 or more boards, its easy enough to just use powered risers.

[kradNZ]

I've got a couple of non powered risers that I intend to mod to be powered.  Seen a few people do it and am handy with a soldering iron.

[Ethera]

if you going more then 2 cards, then deffo powered.