dual 6 pins into dual 8pins GPU, works?

[optimizeru]

Hello guys,

I bought a r9 280x vapor-x gpu recently and it requires 2x 8pins and I only have 6 pins.

My PSU; Earthwatts 500w

Is it okay to plug it with the 6pins until I get a new PSU ?

 

[TemjinGold]

NO. Don't do it.

 

[optimizeru]

Hello, it was too late and a friend who told me that nothing can happen if I try, pushed me to try.

What happened: The gpu started working, the coolers, the leds, BUT no display transferred to my monitor, does that make sense to you ?

I mean everything's looks "fine" but no display, the windows loads and stuff..

 

[heymrdj]

Yes because a majority of the GPU isn't getting 12V (that's delivered on the other two pins, more 12V). You need 2x8 pins. Most of the time you can get away with a 6 to 8 pin adapter but depending on the card it can also burn something up. At 500W (as good as the Earthwatts are) I think it's time for a new bigger PSU if you're running a 280x

 

[optimizeru]

Thank you very much for explanation.

I'm currently looking for some PSUs.
I can get a FSP 700AURUM for half price (used) with 3 years warranty, think it's ok ?

it has 6+2 connectors not a whole 8pins, should I look for whole 8pins ?

Can u recommend some PSUs that are not too expensive ?

 

[heymrdj]

If you need something cheap, I would recommend a refurbished Corsair, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139108

And 6+2 is the standard that you'll find most 8 pin power supplies in. It allows it to work with both 6 pin and 8 pin GPU's (some of the earlier units that did have 8 pins only wouldn't plug into 6 pin GPU's, requiring an adapter instead). I don't know much about the FSP, but the reviews seem to show it's an ok unit, but makes alot of noise in its voltage lines. It also gets inefficient when tasked with putting out more than 500W.

 

[TemjinGold]

A 500w is more than fine for the card, you just need to make sure you use 8pin connectors.

 

[optimizeru]

Couldn't find a PSU like that (Corsair CX600) in Israeli Online Shops, could you write me a list of recommended PSUs and I'll look them up ?

Thanks

 

[TemjinGold]

It's not a problem to get a higher wattage in that case. I was just saying you don't need that many watts.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Couldn't find a PSU like that (Corsair CX600) in Israeli Online Shops, could you write me a list of recommended PSUs and I'll look them up ?

Thanks

Run the brands/models that you can get through jonnyguru's site / forum.
If it gets a good grade from him or OklahomaWolf, you're golden.

 

[.vodka]

Run the brands/models that you can get through jonnyguru's site / forum.
If it gets a good grade from him or OklahomaWolf, you're golden.

This, for any future PSU OP considers buying. In fact his PSU (earthwatts 500w) has been reviewed by jonnyguru and passed the ordeal with good points (9.5 for performance)

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=35


You should try adapters to convert those 6 pin connectors to 8 pins, but again a 280x shouldn't be a problem for that PSU, if you're not overclocking it. What is the rest of your system?

 

[Piotrsama]

Well, the card comes with 2 dual-Molex to 8-Pin PCIe power connectors.
You could try those, if you have 4 available molex.
But don't OC anything, the PSU is barely enough for a 280x.

 

[rajahz]

Hello, the system will run a I7 in the future, with 8gb ram 1600mhz, like 5 USB devices, hdd 7200rpm and ssd.
Unfortunately the gpu didn't come with any adapters ;-(

 

[.vodka]

Buy the adapters. Don't overclock anything, save that for when you get a beefier PSU in the future. It'll be fine.

 

[optimizeru]

Thank you guys, definitely gonna contact the shop that sold me the used r9 280x to provide me some with some adapters for now.

 

[Wall Street]

Yes because a majority of the GPU isn't getting 12V (that's delivered on the other two pins, more 12V).

By the way, this is false. The difference between an 8-pin and a 6-pin PCI-E power connector is two additional ground wires. The connectors just sense if those ground wires are shorted or open to decide if an 8-pin connector or a 6-pin connector is being used.

The reason for 8-pin connectors is not that more wires are needed to provide that much power. The reason is that only PSUs which can power a 225 watt GPU should have an 8-pin + 6-pin power arrangement and only PSUs that can power a 300 watt GPU should have two 8-pin connectors.

The original poster's issue is not that his GPU is too large for his PSU, it is that the PSU is so old (2008) that the 8-pin connector wasn't common then. He should be fine with an 8-pin to 6-pin adapter.

 

[heymrdj]

By the way, this is false. The difference between an 8-pin and a 6-pin PCI-E power connector is two additional ground wires. The connectors just sense if those ground wires are shorted or open to decide if an 8-pin connector or a 6-pin connector is being used.





The reason for 8-pin connectors is not that more wires are needed to provide that much power. The reason is that only PSUs which can power a 225 watt GPU should have an 8-pin + 6-pin power arrangement and only PSUs that can power a 300 watt GPU should have two 8-pin connectors.





The original poster's issue is not that his GPU is too large for his PSU, it is that the PSU is so old (2008) that the 8-pin connector wasn't common then. He should be fine with an 8-pin to 6-pin adapter.

Good to know. I thought they were yellow and black but they are indeed both black. Not like the 4+4 on a server connector.

 

[optimizeru]

Thank you for the useful information, it is nice to know some stuff even though not in-depth


A local PC shop gave me a 2x4 to 8pin (2 of those)

Are these the correct adapters for me ?

 

[optimizeru]

it just hit me that this is actually only 2 yellow wires instead of 3, right ?

it's 4 pin molex and 8 pin pcie, but only 3 wires in the molex and only 6 wires in the PCIe ... wtf ?
also, in the pcie there should be no red wires, right ?

Is this no good ?

 

[Wall Street]

it just hit me that this is actually only 2 yellow wires instead of 3, right ?

it's 4 pin molex and 8 pin pcie, but only 3 wires in the molex and only 6 wires in the PCIe ... wtf ?
also, in the pcie there should be no red wires, right ?

Is this no good ?

The item in the picture you have posted is clearly a 6-pin PCI-E connector.

An 8-pin version looks like this (link).

 

[optimizeru]

Is this adapter good for me ? the one from the left.

I asked why cables are red, and that there shud be yellow 12v wires.
He said the company paints it with whatever color they want, it means nothing, this adapter is OKAY.

Can I trust him ?

 

[velis]

No, you can't. You need a proper 6pin to 8 pin adapter or a molex to 8pin adapter. All yellow and black wires. Also take care that you don't buy a mobo adapter, it's different.

For example, this one is OK.

The use of such adapter seems to depend upon the graphics card. Yours won't display when it detects a 6pin power while mine (ASUS STRIX 970) works just fine even without the adapter.

 

[heymrdj]

Yeah the brown makes me think that adapter is carrying 5V and 12, when it should only be touching the 12V and ground on the 4 pin. Or like velis suggested, get a 6 pin to 8pin converter, which should, again, be all yellow and black.