Need a 6-pin to 8-pin mobo adapter (or is it possible?)

[BAD311]

Hello all,

I have a PSU I'm replacing and need to know if they make a 6-pin to 8-pin mobo adapter cable.

The bad PSU has a 8-pin EPS mobo connector, while the replacement unit has a 6-pin. Is it safe for me to use a 6-pin to 8-pin EPS adapter? I've taken photos of the 6-pin connectors on the replacement PSU. One is obviously a PCI-E connector, but the second one stumps me, it's much larger compared to the PCI-E connector. Is this the one I can get a 8-pin EPS adapter for? It's the white 6-pin.

DO I NEED TO GET ANOTHER PSU OR CAN I MAKE THE REPLACEMENT UNIT WORK? IF IT WORKS, WHERE CAN I FIND AN AFFORDABLE 6-pin to 8-pin EPS mobo connector?

Here is the mobo connection:

Replacement PSU:

Bad (Old) PSU:

 

[VirtualLarry]

Never seen connectors like that 6-pin non-PCI-E power connector. And wierd that it has like *two* ATX connectors. Looks like something non-standard to me.

 

[Level_1]

You need molex to 8 pin like this.

 

[cubby1223]

Nearly all motherboards I've seen allow you to use the 4-pin P4 connecter into half of the 8-pin connector on the motherboard.

The 6-pin connector in pic #2 is for PCI-E cards, do not use.
The 6-pin connector in pic #3 is Dell specific, to add more power adapters for hard drives, cdroms, etc. do not use.

Your best option is to see if the motherboard runs with just the 4-pin P4 connector connected. If not, I would suggest buying a PSU with the right connector.

or:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812201005

 

[jiffylube1024]

If that Dell 6-pin adapter is for the motherboard, then it's probably proprietary. I don't think it's safe to use it in the 8-pin +12V power plugs.

You may have to find another PSU, or try using a molex to +12V plug adapter. Any PSU with a 4-pin +12V or 8-pin EPS plug should work.

 

[Wangstang]

Search ebay for:
DPS-700FB

You'll find a power supply that should fit a full size ATX case and will have plenty of power/plugs/wire length. It's designed for server applications and made by Delta Power Supplies so it's as good or better than any high end aftermarket power supply you'll find.

Wes

 

[BadThad]

There's no way I'd use that POS Dell power supply in any PC. Go buy a real PS.

 

[heymrdj]

Boy the replies really missed the mark. The mobo is a dell, the PSU that died is a dell. That system will need a replacement Dell PSU (mucho $$$ from Dell). They use that proprietary 6pin in the mainboard so that you can't just swap another PSU in. It's no where near PCI-E formfactor and I believe the voltages on that port are not the same as normal either. If I remember correctly it's GRND, GRND, +3.3, +12, +12.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Boy the replies really missed the mark. The mobo is a dell, the PSU that died is a dell. That system will need a replacement Dell PSU (mucho $$$ from Dell). They use that proprietary 6pin in the mainboard so that you can't just swap another PSU in. It's no where near PCI-E formfactor and I believe the voltages on that port are not the same as normal either. If I remember correctly it's GRND, GRND, +3.3, +12, +12.

Nice move by Dell...who the hell uses a proprietary 6pin?

 

[heymrdj]

They make converters for the situation. But there's a hugeee problem.

http://www.amazon.com/DELLP6CONVERTE.../dp/B003MHWF9M

Notice the wiring colors on that sata cable look a little odd? That's because it has orange wires, the 3.3v spec that PSU manufactures crap on to cheapen cabling costs. If your replacement PSU is one that does not follow true sata spec (only yellow (12v) and red (5v) and black (grnds)), then these converters will not work. As wikipedia states it's common to let the 3.3 go because most hardware just provides its own conversion from 5v to lower voltages when it needs it.

The reason this connector is on the mainboard is because it follows pre ATX 2.0 standards. With 2.0 came 24pin connectors. These connectors supplied the necesaary 3.3 and 5v needed to supply onboard voltage converters for the processor. Before 2.0 that little 6pin connector was needed on systems with higher end processors (known officially as the P6 or AUX connector) because while there was 4 pin 12v, there was nothing to feed the 5v and 3.3v to older rectifiers still being used at the time (especially on OEM systems). So there you have it, the reason why you need it.

I would return your other PSU and get an ebay dell unit, or junk the whole system. Normally when the PSU goes in them the motherboard ain't far behind. Is it bulging caps yet?

 

[BadThad]

Nice move by Dell...who the hell uses a proprietary 6pin?

They also flip their power supplies upside down so you can't replace them with a standard PS. Bottomline, Dell sucks.

 

[BadThad]

They make converters for the situation. But there's a hugeee problem.

http://www.amazon.com/DELLP6CONVERTE.../dp/B003MHWF9M

Notice the wiring colors on that sata cable look a little odd? That's because it has orange wires, the 3.3v spec that PSU manufactures crap on to cheapen cabling costs. If your replacement PSU is one that does not follow true sata spec (only yellow (12v) and red (5v) and black (grnds)), then these converters will not work. As wikipedia states it's common to let the 3.3 go because most hardware just provides its own conversion from 5v to lower voltages when it needs it.

The reason this connector is on the mainboard is because it follows pre ATX 2.0 standards. With 2.0 came 24pin connectors. These connectors supplied the necesaary 3.3 and 5v needed to supply onboard voltage converters for the processor. Before 2.0 that little 6pin connector was needed on systems with higher end processors (known officially as the P6 or AUX connector) because while there was 4 pin 12v, there was nothing to feed the 5v and 3.3v to older rectifiers still being used at the time (especially on OEM systems). So there you have it, the reason why you need it.

I would return your other PSU and get an ebay dell unit, or junk the whole system. Normally when the PSU goes in them the motherboard ain't far behind. Is it bulging caps yet?

Nice detective work!

Dell's are the WORST I've ever seen for bulging and leaking caps.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Before 2.0 that little 6pin connector was needed on systems with higher end processors (known officially as the P6 or AUX connector) because while there was 4 pin 12v, there was nothing to feed the 5v and 3.3v to older rectifiers still being used at the time (especially on OEM systems). So there you have it, the reason why you need it.

Except, that six-pin connector that looks similar to a PCI-E 6-pin power connector (but with different wiring), is NOT the standard pre-ATX 2.0 6-pin aux connector. What he has is completely proprietary. I haven't even seen that connector on the playtool.com site, and they have a pretty comprehensive listing of all the standard PSU connectors ever used.