PCI-E 6+2 question

[QueBert]

My PSU has 1 6+2 connector, my new video card has an 8 pin and a 6 pin. Googling I read conflicting things about how to handle this. A few people recommended getting a 6+2 y adapter. A few others said no no no and to get a new PSU. My PSU's plenty powerful enough, Corsair 520 watt (i5, 7950) I can some what see the no people's stance. But I'm not too sure that using a splitter will put un-needed stress on the rail.

My question is, is there any reason I should go with a PSU that 2 6+2 connectors out of the box over using a splitter?

 

[lehtv]

What exactly is your power supply? If it's the Corsair HX520, it should have two PCIe connectors. I don't know of any other 520W Corsair units.

 

[Golgatha]

What exactly is your power supply? If it's the Corsair HX520, it should have two PCIe connectors. I don't know of any other 520W Corsair units.

If that's the one, he's got 2x6pin PCIe cables. OP, you just need a 6pin to 8pin PCIe adapter.

Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-Expre.../dp/B001TK3TJY

 

[Blastman]

No reason to get a new psu. Just get a LP4 to 8 Pin PCI Express Video Card Power Cable Adapter
and you are set.

 

[QueBert]

No reason to get a new psu. Just get a LP4 to 8 Pin PCI Express Video Card Power Cable Adapter
and you are set.

Video card came with that, I only have 1 molex connector and I'm not sure if it even works. I have no stuff with molex to hook it up and test it out. I believe that connector is bad. Just a hunch, but the video card that's not working is brand new. Could be DOA I dunno. I ended up ordering a EVGA Hadron case today. If it doesn't work in that I know it's the card.

Or I guess it could be the Motherboard, DOH lol.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Didn't the GPU supply the connectors? Every graphics card I buy offers cables for the necessary connections, :hmm:

 

[aigomorla]

never split a PCI-E rail.

Those were meant to handle a certain type of current... the reason why a video card can take 2, is because it requires more current then 1 can handle.

The reason why some cards require a 6 vs 8 is again.. current... those 2 extra wires allows more current.

If you split the rail, you will effectively double the current which those wires can handle which can lead the wire to overheating, and then a fire hazard.

This was quite normal on guys who did TEC setups POORLY, pulling too much current from a single Molex wire.

Your best off getting the second PCI-E rail off a Molex and then using an adapter...


Here an exaggerated example of a wire under too much current:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_bIa_uau0c

Dont use the same PCI-E wire to split 2 PCI-E connectors... your asking for danger.

 

[fx_rage]

I'm currently sleeving my own set of PSU cables (for the x650) and they have a set of 6+2 which connects to the PSU via an 8 pin, and then splits to provide 2 6+2 connectors.

I assume this is fine and if so, is it ok because it's attached to an 8 pin to the PSU?

never split a PCI-E rail.

Dont use the same PCI-E wire to split 2 PCI-E connectors... your asking for danger.

 

[Meghan54]

The reason why some cards require a 6 vs 8 is again.. current... those 2 extra wires allows more current.

Aigo, I think you'll find that the two wires on a 6+2 PCI-e connector that make it an 8-pin connector are nothing more than two sense/ground wires and don't actually carry current. But you are correct in that when the two ground/sense wires are inserted into the 8-pin connector on a gpu, that allows extra current to pass across the three + wires on the 6-wire side of the 6+2 PCI-e connector.

 

[Golgatha]

If that's the one, he's got 2x6pin PCIe cables. OP, you just need a 6pin to 8pin PCIe adapter.

Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-Expre.../dp/B001TK3TJY

It never ceases to amaze me that a problem with an absolutely direct solution to the problem can generate so many opinions about the problem when the problem is easily and directly solvable. OP, buy the adapter I linked, install it, and go about your day. There is no worry of overvoltage, frying wires, overloading rails, etc.

 

[aigomorla]

It never ceases to amaze me that a problem with an absolutely direct solution to the problem can generate so many opinions about the problem when the problem is easily and directly solvable. OP, buy the adapter I linked, install it, and go about your day. There is no worry of overvoltage, frying wires, overloading rails, etc.

im confused...

his problem is he is lacking a extra pci-e rail? or he is lacking a 8 pin...

if he needs another pci-e rail, he would need to pull it off the molex like this:

if he is missing 2 pins... then yes ur adapter will work.


However he mentioned a Y splitter... which lead me to think he is missing an entire PCI-E rail.