6 vs 8 pin PCI-E Question

[jewii]

Why do we use 8 pin Connectors? the difference is that the 8 pin has 2 extra ground cables running through so how can that deliver more power?

if that's so why does a passive connector like this work?


My Problem:

Bought A modular Antec PSU however one of the PCI-E cables, the extra two black cables don't work (they're not physically connected to PSU after a lil poke) thus it's only a 6pin. Would this connector fix my problem?

 

[Jamiman]

It's to do with how the old card's were 'wired up' so as to speak. The wires themselves are no different, and it's not to do with how much power they can hold. For PCI-E 2 people realised that 8pin was pointless and refined card design led to only the 6pin connectors being needed.

That connector might help, I'm not an expert on how they re-wired everything.

There are Molex-8pin connectors about though, try one of them.

 

[jewii]

strange... I've bought an adapter to test out anyway, only £2.

My 7970 came with one of these but i threw t away as why would i ever need one as it has become standard for 8pin to be attached to the 6 pin version.