PCI-E cable incompatible with PSU?

Grae_a · 16 Jul 2008 at 16:07

So having just replaced my 7800GT with a shiny new 4870...I realise that I've left all of my modular power cables at uni (in Aberdeen, so it's not exactly a quick round trip to pick them up) and so don't have the two 6-pin PCI-E cables that came with my PSU (an Antec 550 NeoPower).

I have, however managed to scrounge together another pair, which seem to be made by Enermax. The problem is, whenever I try and use the enermax cables, the psu simply refuses to power up (even if I only plug the cables into it and not the graphics card too).

Is there any reason that they shouldn't work? I know that they're a different brand than the power supply, but surely it can't make that much of a difference? :confused:

Does anyone know if there's some way around this/why it's happening? I'm more than willing to rewire the cables if need be, I'd just rather not have to make the 200 mile round trip to Aberdeen or wait until the start of term before I can enjoy my new bit of kit

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys...

Graeme

Admiral Huddy · 16 Jul 2008 at 16:14

The connectors might not be making contact in side the PSU. Your best bet is to plug them in and check the card end of the leads with a multi-meter.

Failing that, try contacting the manufacturer of the PSU. I'm sure they'll be accomodating enough to send you replacement leads through the post, which is less hasle than your 200 miles round trip.

TechMeh · 16 Jul 2008 at 16:24

Yeah, Im pritty sure that they would send you some cables trough, tho you could always make contact in aberdeen and try and get someone to send them trough the post.

Grae_a · 16 Jul 2008 at 17:13

Cheers for the advice, I just sent off a message to Antec, so fingers crossed they'll be able to suggest something.

I just can't believe that there's any difference between two different brands of cables...it's just a few bloomin' wires! (And although I've not checked with a multimeter, the cables are certainly making contact, otherwise it wouldn't know the difference between when they're plugged in or not...and know whether to infuriate me by not powering up or not!) :mad:

At least it should be worth the wait when I do get it all running smoothly

Teaf · 16 Jul 2008 at 17:35

At worst if Antec won't send you replacements, get some molex -> 6pin PCI-e cables which should only cost you a couple of quid. You can get them in 1 molex -> 1 pci-e flavour now as opposed to the old style 2x molex -> 1x pci-e.

TechMeh · 17 Jul 2008 at 00:58

Grae_a said:
Cheers for the advice, I just sent off a message to Antec, so fingers crossed they'll be able to suggest something.

I just can't believe that there's any difference between two different brands of cables...it's just a few bloomin' wires! (And although I've not checked with a multimeter, the cables are certainly making contact, otherwise it wouldn't know the difference between when they're plugged in or not...and know whether to infuriate me by not powering up or not!)

At least it should be worth the wait when I do get it all running smoothly

Yeah, Good Luck, But its better it does not work then be sorry, its probably done for a reason

Grae_a · 17 Jul 2008 at 02:28

Well I just got a reply from one of the guys at Antec.

'The enermax cables will have different pinouts most likely you are causing a ground out and the PSU will not start because of this.'

So I checked the standard pinout for the cable, and the enermax ones seem to be normal, so it must be the PSU that uses a strange pin configuration...unfortunately I can't find any diagrams, or even decent photos, of what the 550 NeoPower PCI cable should look like

I did also get the email address for their spare parts department, so all is not lost

TechMeh · 17 Jul 2008 at 17:14

Good News Then, Lets hope the spare department can help you out.

mmorpheus1 · 17 Jul 2008 at 17:19

just use the molex to pcie converters that come with the card until you get your cables back from uni...

I got 2 of them with my Sapphire HD4870 dunno what brand you got but check in the box

Grae_a · 17 Jul 2008 at 22:23

Unfortunately I didn't get any molex adaptors with my card (Powercolor)

...in any case, I don't have enough free molex connectors at the moment anyway, doh!

Antec's customer service have been really pretty good, the guy from their store priced the cables for me (works out at a £8 for the cables - not bad - but delivery was either £4 or £9, and delivery could take 2+ weeks! Too long to wait for shiny graphics I think

), although, despite my pestering, they didn't have the pinouts for the PSU outputs

| Black |Yellow |

easy! :confused:

Anyway, to cut an overly long post short, I think I'm just going to have to wait until I get a few days off work and take a trip to Aberdeen to meet up with mates, reimmerse myself in student life....and pick up those effin' cables!

IAmATeaf · 18 Jul 2008 at 09:59

Can't you just get your mate(s) (not too sure how many students it takes to post some cables

) to post them down to you?

Grae_a · 18 Jul 2008 at 10:04

I would, but unfortunately none of my flatmates are there at the moment, and my mates don't have keys...would be the easy solution though

<edit>
As for how many students it takes...just one, but the letter would only get sent the day before the deadline (me coming back after summer) and every day before then sould be spent in the pub complaining about it!

Oh, and thanks again for the replies everyone, I really appreciate the suggestions.