PCI-Express Video Card with molex power connector instead of PCIe power connector?

[Synomenon]

Why do these 512MB 8600GTSs use regular 4-pin molex power connectors and not the standard 6-pin PCIe power connector? My PSU has a dedicated PCIe power connector (connected to its own rail as well) and now I can't use it.

I found this adapter:
http://www.performance-pcs.com...=186&products_id=21141

but Performance-PCs told me to make sure that my card (the 512MB 8600GTS) needs only 12V. They have this note on the page:

"This adapter can be used to convert any 6-pin power supply PCI Express cable to a standard 4-pin Molex cable. Keep in mind that PCI Express only has a +12V voltage and so this cable can ONLY be used for things like fans and case lighting were no 5V source is needed. Do not use this adapter for hard drives, optical drives and other computer hardware that requires both 5 and 12V voltages..."


The dedicated PCIe power connectors on PSUs today deliver only 12V while regular 4-pin molex connectors deliver 12V + 5V. Does anyone know if I can use this adapter to connect my PSU's dedicated PCIe power connector to my 512MB 8600GTS's molex power connector? Does the 512MB 8600GTS require only 12V like other PCI Express video cards or does it require 12V + 5V?

 

[Synomenon]

Bump...

 

[nullpointerus]

Have you tried a 4-pin molex plug from the PSU?

From what I've heard, the GeForce 8500/8600 series is not exactly power hungry.

 

[Synomenon]

I have, but the point is that I want to use the PCIe power coming from my PSU since it is on its own rail.

 

[Synomenon]

If I use that adapter from Performance-PCs, will it damage the card since it's only delivering 12V and not 12V+5V that molex connectors supply?

 

[JAG87]

pci-e plugs only carry +12v so the adapter only uses the black and the red wire from the molex.

 

[Synomenon]

Which adapter are you talking about? The one I linked to at Performance-PCs? If so, yes I'm aware that this adapter only supplies 12V. What I asked in my post above yours was if giving the card only 12V (like any other PCI-express) card would damage the card. The molex y-adapter that comes with the card has all wires connected (grounds, 5V and 12V) which means that the card is getting 12V+5V when using the molex y-adapter supplied with it.

 

[VERTIGGO]

It won't damage and it won't work either. It will just be missing one pin (5V)

 

[Synomenon]

So the card won't run at all without that 5V?

I guess I'll ask EVGA's RMA department to send me a regular 256MB 8600GTS then.

 

[SergeC]

It definitely won't damage it. No chance of that.

Don't know if it will work - try it and find out!

 

[TroubleM]

No video card uses the 5V line, so no worries there. And your video card uses the same 12V power on your Molex connector as the one in the 6 pin connector.

 

[JAG87]

Originally posted by: JAG87
pci-e plugs only carry +12v so the adapter only uses the black and the red wire from the molex.

islndboi what part of this sentence did you not understand? The pci-e 6 pin connector only carries +12V and GROUND pins.

see this is why I dont bother helping people anymore, because they ignore what your write and they just keep asking the same question over and over.

 

[Synomenon]

I understood what you said. I was just making sure that the card really didn't need the extra 5V. No need to give anyone that kind of attitude.

 

[JAG87]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
I understood what you said. I was just making sure that the card really didn't need the extra 5V. No need to give anyone that kind of attitude.

well dude, if I told you that the very plug used to power graphic cards only carries +12V, how do you figure the card needs +5V? Come on, dont be repetitive.

 

[betasub]

Because for some reason his 8600GTS requires a 4-pin molex connector, which as we know carries both +12V and +5V.

I can only assume that it's an attempt by the maker to keep open the market for this card to ppl with older (non-PCIe) PSUs. I don't think there's any card that uses +5V from the molex, only +12V, but can't blame the OP for asking for a clarification.