Does the GTX 280 absolutely NEED to be connected to 2 PCIE power connectors?

Cheesetogo

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Jan 26, 2005
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I ordered a GTX 280 for my system, and to my dismay, the box did not include a molex => PCIE 8 Pin adapter. If I were to only connect it with one 6 Pin, would I have some issues? Is there a potential danger in damaging the card if it doesn't get enough power?

I really don't understand why the GTX 280 needs so many PCIE connectors - my X1900XTX actually uses more power than the GTX 280 (based on the Anandtech reviews of each card), yet the X1900XTX requires only 1 PCIE 6 Pin connector. What gives?
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
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The GTX 280 is capable of hitting around 200W thereabouts, so one 6 pin connector is insufficient. You may not be able to compare the Anandtech reviews directly because they probably measure entire system power draw, thus the newer card might have been tested on a more efficient setup which is the trend these days.

If you don't plug in both connectors, the card will not give you a picture.

To my knowledge, there are no molex to 8-pin PCIe adaptors because the 8-pin connector is capable of 150W while the molex are not.

Are you sure your power supply is sufficient for the GTX 280?
 

Cheesetogo

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Jan 26, 2005
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Originally posted by: Zap

To my knowledge, there are no molex to 8-pin PCIe adaptors because the 8-pin connector is capable of 150W while the molex are not.

I believe the adapters use 2 or 3 molex connectors.

Are you sure your power supply is sufficient for the GTX 280?

The Anandtech review of the X1900XTX used an FX-57, which is a single core. I would assume that a QX9770 (used in the GTX 280 review) pulls more power. In the reviews, the X1900XTX system was shown to pull 340 watts at load, whereas in the GTX 280 system, only 310 watts were used. My current PSU has had absolutely no trouble with my X1900XTX for the past two years.
 

Lightning983

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Jun 27, 2008
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What power supply are you using?
If it were me i'd probably get a new PSU, except if you have something in the 600W range (or higher)
 

Cheesetogo

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Jan 26, 2005
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Originally posted by: Lightning983
What power supply are you using?
If it were me i'd probably get a new PSU, except if you have something in the 600W range (or higher)

I'm not about to go out and spend $100 on a new PSU when I have a perfectly good one right now. Unless there's something seriously off with one of the Anandtech power benchmarks, my system should draw less power once the GTX 280 is installed.

 

CP5670

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
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The 280 draws quite a bit more power than an X1900XTX. I switched to it from the same card and my system's load power draw (after adjusting for the PSU's efficiency) increased by about 60W.

If your card didn't come with an adapter, you can do what I did and buy one from someone who doesn't need theirs. They are almost impossible to find for individual sale but most of the card companies bundle them with the cards, so there will be many people who have a spare.

There are plenty of good PSUs that lack the 8-pin plug but will power the card perfectly fine, but you need to acquire an adapter to use them.
 

Cheesetogo

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Jan 26, 2005
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Originally posted by: CP5670
The 280 draws quite a bit more power than an X1900XTX. I switched to it from the same card and my system's load power draw (after adjusting for the PSU's efficiency) increased by about 60W.

If your card didn't come with an adapter, you can do what I did and buy one from someone who doesn't need theirs. They are almost impossible to find for individual sale but most of the card companies bundle them with the cards, so there will be many people who have a spare.

There are plenty of good PSUs that lack the 8-pin plug but will power the card perfectly fine, but you need to acquire an adapter to use them.

Great...I have to wonder why the benchmarks don't line up though. If that's the case, I'm probably going to need a new PSU.
 

Concillian

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May 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
The Anandtech review of the X1900XTX used an FX-57, which is a single core. I would assume that a QX9770 (used in the GTX 280 review) pulls more power.

I wouldn't bet on this. S939 was power efficient for the time when compared with a Prescott. S939 chipsets sucked a lot of power compared to P35 and P45 chipsets. the lower speed S939 processors were okay on power, but the FX series pushed the voltage up and were much higher power.

The Intel quads do not really push the voltage. The high end is still running <1.2v, and these are definitely using less power than an FX57.


My C2D + P43 + 7900GT + 4 gigs DDR2 pulls less power on a Kill-a-Watt than my single core S939 @ 2.4GHz + x800XL (no 6-pin connector, so is pulling 75W max). In games the intel machine is like 30W lower, and the 7900GT shouldn't be pulling less power than the x800XL, so that's all mobo + CPU + RAM.

motherboards use quite a bit less power now than they used to. DDR2 is also lower power than DDR was.

I don't think it's far off base that a QX9770 system as a whole is pulling considerably less than a FX-57 system as a whole.
 

Concillian

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May 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: Ares202
Originally posted by: CP5670
If your card didn't come with an adapter, you can do what I did and buy one from someone who doesn't need theirs. They are almost impossible to find for individual sale but most of the card companies bundle them with the cards, so there will be many people who have a spare.

Orly?

http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0...rsZ1QQ_fromZR40QQ_mdoZ

Impossible :)



I'm not seeing any 8-pin adapters there.

He has the 6-pin, he needs the 8-pin.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
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i use an alligator clip to cover the two exposed pins and then it is wired to [black molex] ground

no adapters are really needed IF you have a capable PS
my 850 OCZ is the old style with only 2 PCIe 6 pin connectors; no problem with doing this with either my 4870x2 or my GTX280; heck i used two alligator clips when i had 2900xt CF
rose.gif
 

SlowSpyder

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
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Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Originally posted by: Zap

To my knowledge, there are no molex to 8-pin PCIe adaptors because the 8-pin connector is capable of 150W while the molex are not.

I believe the adapters use 2 or 3 molex connectors.

Are you sure your power supply is sufficient for the GTX 280?

The Anandtech review of the X1900XTX used an FX-57, which is a single core. I would assume that a QX9770 (used in the GTX 280 review) pulls more power. In the reviews, the X1900XTX system was shown to pull 340 watts at load, whereas in the GTX 280 system, only 310 watts were used. My current PSU has had absolutely no trouble with my X1900XTX for the past two years.

Maybe with all 4 cores loaded the quad may pull as much/more, but depending on the benchmark it may have only loaded one or two cores. Also, different memory, northbridge/southbridge.
 

CP5670

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
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Originally posted by: Ares202
Originally posted by: CP5670
If your card didn't come with an adapter, you can do what I did and buy one from someone who doesn't need theirs. They are almost impossible to find for individual sale but most of the card companies bundle them with the cards, so there will be many people who have a spare.

Orly?

http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0...rsZ1QQ_fromZR40QQ_mdoZ

Impossible :)

Not one of those is the right kind.

There are a few individual ones on there at the moment (look for 8-pin connectors; make sure you avoid the 8-pin EPS plugs), but I still have yet to see a normal store with larger quantities available.
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
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If you only plugged one in I'm pretty sure the alarm would go off.
 

Quiksilver

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Jul 3, 2005
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Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
Just get an OCZ STEALTHXSTREAM 600W for $30 AR AC. According to the OCZ website it has a 6 and 6+2 PCI-E.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817341010

Fuck it. I'll just go all out and get this. At least I won't have to worry about needing a PSU for a long time.

Cheaper + Better than the one your looking at that 600w OCZ one.:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139006
 

WaitingForNehalem

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Aug 24, 2008
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Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
Just get an OCZ STEALTHXSTREAM 600W for $30 AR AC. According to the OCZ website it has a 6 and 6+2 PCI-E.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817341010

Fuck it. I'll just go all out and get this. At least I won't have to worry about needing a PSU for a long time.

Cheaper + Better than the one your looking at that 600w OCZ one.:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139006

I liked that PSU until AnandTech's review.
 

Quiksilver

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2005
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Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
Just get an OCZ STEALTHXSTREAM 600W for $30 AR AC. According to the OCZ website it has a 6 and 6+2 PCI-E.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817341010

Fuck it. I'll just go all out and get this. At least I won't have to worry about needing a PSU for a long time.

Cheaper + Better than the one your looking at that 600w OCZ one.:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139006

I liked that PSU until AnandTech's review.

Is there something wrong with it? The thing that the review complains about don't happen until the load it up the the full 100%; and in real life if you are actually needing a full 750W out of a PSU your not going to buy a 750W PSU... not too mention it was still all in ATX spec.
 

Cheesetogo

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2005
3,815
3
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Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
Just get an OCZ STEALTHXSTREAM 600W for $30 AR AC. According to the OCZ website it has a 6 and 6+2 PCI-E.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817341010

Fuck it. I'll just go all out and get this. At least I won't have to worry about needing a PSU for a long time.

Cheaper + Better than the one your looking at that 600w OCZ one.:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139006

I liked that PSU until AnandTech's review.

Is there something wrong with it? The thing that the review complains about don't happen until the load it up the the full 100%; and in real life if you are actually needing a full 750W out of a PSU your not going to buy a 750W PSU... not too mention it was still all in ATX spec.

Well, after the 15% of thing that newegg is offering, they're roughly the same price. Since the review on the PCP&C is pretty much completely positive, I'm probably going to go with it.
 

CP5670

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
5,506
583
126
That cable has an EPS connector with a different pinout. It will probably kill a video card if you try to plug it into one.
 

PlasmaBomb

Lifer
Nov 19, 2004
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Originally posted by: CP5670
Originally posted by: Ares202
Originally posted by: CP5670
If your card didn't come with an adapter, you can do what I did and buy one from someone who doesn't need theirs. They are almost impossible to find for individual sale but most of the card companies bundle them with the cards, so there will be many people who have a spare.

Orly?

http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0...rsZ1QQ_fromZR40QQ_mdoZ

Impossible :)

Not one of those is the right kind.

There are a few individual ones on there at the moment (look for 8-pin connectors; make sure you avoid the 8-pin EPS plugs), but I still have yet to see a normal store with larger quantities available.

That is because Ares did a search for 6 pin for some reason...

Also be careful which 8 pin connector you get - you don't want an EPS 8 pin, it won't fit in the GPU...