PCI Express 6 pin to 8 pin Power Adapter Cable question

Matt81

Matt81

Matt81

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3 Jan 2012
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Hi started my new build today but hit a hurdle in that my PSU does not have an 8 pin lead for the GPU. The GPU requires a 6 and 8 pin. After doing a little research it looks like you can by an adaptor to convert a pci express 6 pin power lead to an 8 pin. Am I ok to go ahead and buy one of these? Is there any reason not to will it cause any issues at all?

My PSU is a Corsair HX520W
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/corsair_hx520w/

and the GPU I am using is Asus ATI Radeon HD 6950 DirectCU II 2048MB GDDR5
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-254-AS&tool=3

Thanks for any help

Matt
 
it says on the specs of the power supply that there are 4 pci-e cables with 6+2


Corsair HX520W Connectors
PCI-E 6+2 Pin Modular 4
 
Stinger53 said:
it says on the specs of the power supply that there are 4 pci-e cables with 6+2


Corsair HX520W Connectors
PCI-E 6+2 Pin Modular 4
Click to expand...

I went through all the cables that came with it still had them all in the box and could not find any 6+2 although I did buy it about 18 months ago guess they may have been lost. I will have another look around.
 
I think earlier models come with only 6 pin, yours must be older than 18 months or a older model, I think some people mailed Corsair and got 6+2 leads free.
 
just found the manual for the PSU listing the package contents no mention of a 6+2 only 2x 550mm PCI express controller cables 6 pin.
 
just read that it should be ok to use a 6 pin lead in the 8 pin socket on the GPU as the other 2 are just grounds is this ok to do?
 
An 8 pin cable is rated for 150W. A 6 pin cable is rated for 75W.

If you stick a piece of plastic onto the end of a 6 pin cable, you have an 8 pin cable rated for 75W. This is a bad thing, and not sensible. If the gpu only needed 75W, it would have a six pin socket on it. As it has an 8 pin socket, assume it needs more than 75W.

Find a cable that turns two six pin cables into one eight pin cable and you'll be fine.

^That's the correct answer. If you want to plug a 6 pin lead into an 8 pin socket and hope for the best, then fair enough. I wouldn't do this personally.
 
JonJ678 said:
An 8 pin cable is rated for 150W. A 6 pin cable is rated for 75W.

If you stick a piece of plastic onto the end of a 6 pin cable, you have an 8 pin cable rated for 75W. This is a bad thing, and not sensible. If the gpu only needed 75W, it would have a six pin socket on it. As it has an 8 pin socket, assume it needs more than 75W.

Find a cable that turns two six pin cables into one eight pin cable and you'll be fine.

^That's the correct answer. If you want to plug a 6 pin lead into an 8 pin socket and hope for the best, then fair enough. I wouldn't do this personally.
Click to expand...

Hi thanks for the info I was unaware of the differences in wattage I will see if I can find the cable that you suggested.
 
found another cable and was wondering if this would provide 150w?

Molex 8-pin to 2x 4-pin PCI-E Power Cable for PC Video Card

It has 2 molex to 1 x 8 pin
 
It will still use the 12v rails on the HX520. In total you have about 480w to power anything that uses the 12v rails according the the spec sheet, so using the 6 pin to 8 pin adapter will be fine. So really the 6 pins on the PSU can draw out more power but the 75w limit is on the card itself. You'll be fine using the adapter. It's just letting the card know it can draw out 150w from the PSU.
 
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