Problem with GTX 660 Ti 6-pin connector

[sthiago]

Recently there was some light/energy flickering in my house. After that, my screen froze and the monitor wouldn't receive signal. After little inspection, I saw that the fan of the video card was starting with real fast rotation and then stopping. I thought that it was the fan itself that fried.

Then, after a careless pc start, I forgot to connect the two 6-pin power connectors to the video card. To my surprise, the fan started and mantained the rotation. I didn't keep it long that way. I quickly turned the pc off, so I'm not sure it can provide video signal to the monitor. But that made me think. I tested, then, turning it on with only 1 of the two 6-pin PCI-e connectors and realized that one of them mantains the same behaviour as turning it on without any (maintains rotation). The other one causes the video card fan to spin real fast for 1-2 secs then stops.

I tested the video card in another computer, same behaviour.

My guess is that the light flickering caused that specific PCI-e additional power connector to fry, or something. I want to ask if it is possible to use the card normally with only 1 of the 2 PCI-e 6-pin connectors or if it'll cause the card to fry in, like, instants. Or maybe I can replace the connector with some careful resoldering?

My PSU is a corsair CX600v2, btw.

Thanks for your attention.

 

[flexy]

So you're saying the card merely spins the fan but there is no video?
My confusion is that you ask "whether it's possible to use the card normally" with only one connector, but didn't you answer yourself already since you say the card doesn't work anymore?

My guess is that a electricity surge didn't just fry a connector (that would indeed be easy to fix), but more likely zapped a voltage regulator on the card, something which happened to some of my motherboards more than one time already. VRMs are usually the first thing to go when there is something like a power surge. In this case, the fix would likely NOT be worth it, seeing that you should be able to get a GTX 660 or 670 "relatively cheap". (My wife's just recently crapped out too, since she only plays SWTOR etc. I bought a cheap, used GTX 670 for her).

** Even if, in theory, it could be possible to start and use a card with only one PCIE connector, it would not be able to draw enough power for games etc. It can draw 66W from the slot and 75W from one connector (the BIOS limits the power it can draw from each) which would not be enough for 3D etc...if this would even work. I mean you can still try and check the card for physical damage and try to resolder the connector, but I think chances are low that it will fix anything.