Can I run my EVGA 980 TI with only a 8 Pin connector?

[vleds123]

Hello yall

Im looking to buy a 980TI since my 1060 died and on a fully tight budget. Now my PSU is an unbranded chinese 850W with only a 6+2 Pin connector for the VGA. 

My MSI 1060 had only 1x6pin connector required but the EVGA 980TI im buying has 8+6 Pin. I dont wanna buy a new PSU can i use my 6+2 pin only in a 14 pin VGA????

 

Thankssss!!! 

[xAcid9]

Please don't. 

1 hour ago, vleds123 said:

unbranded chinese 850W with only a 6+2 Pin connector for the VGA. 

 

[dgsddfgdfhgs]

4 minutes ago, vleds123 said:

m looking to buy a 980TI since my 1060 died and on a fully tight budget.

for how much? gtx1070 is much less power hungry

[Streetguru]

4 minutes ago, vleds123 said:

Hello yall

You'd probably want a molex to 6 pin adapter, it isn't like to draw much power through that anyways.

 

an 850W PSU without like 4 sets of PCI-e adapters is pretty worrying...

 

RX 470/480/570/580s are $80-120 on ebay if you just want a cheap side grade.

[Herman Mcpootis]

20 minutes ago, vleds123 said:

Hello yall

Im looking to buy a 980TI since my 1060 died and on a fully tight budget. Now my PSU is an unbranded chinese 850W with only a 6+2 Pin connector for the VGA. 

My MSI 1060 had only 1x6pin connector required but the EVGA 980TI im buying has 8+6 Pin. I dont wanna buy a new PSU can i use my 6+2 pin only in a 14 pin VGA????

 

Thankssss!!! 

if it's an 850w PSU that doesn't even have two 8-pin pci-e connectors like some 450W PSUs do, then that means it's likely very crappy.

[vleds123]

2 minutes ago, dgsddfgdfhgs said:

for how much? gtx1070 is much less power hungry

200$ and the Gtx 1070 is sold for 300$ So i ill just get a new PSU. The 980Ti is faster

[SydneySideSteveSomewheres]

If you have spare molex connectors, you could try a dual molex 4 Pin to 8 Pin PCI-E Express video card power cable adaptor? They should be cheap enough, even for your budget!

 

Link:

Australia Computer Online (dot) com

 

[vleds123]

53 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

You'd probably want a molex to 6 pin adapter, it isn't like to draw much power through that anyways.

 

an 850W PSU without like 4 sets of PCI-e adapters is pretty worrying...

 

RX 470/480/570/580s are $80-120 on ebay if you just want a cheap side grade.

I dont like AMD :(( and the 980TI is much faster so so ill just get a new PSU

[vleds123]

Just now, SydneySideSteveSomewheres said:

If you have spare molex connectors, you could try a dual molex 4 Pin to 8 Pin PCI-E Express video card power cable adaptor? They should be cheap enough, even for your budget!

 

Link:

Australia Computer Online (dot) com

 

I've read somewhere that it wasn't something good to do

[vleds123]

38 minutes ago, Herman Mcpootis said:

if it's an 850w PSU that doesn't even have two 8-pin pci-e connectors like some 450W PSUs do, then that means it's likely very crappy.

Yes unbranded I think

[Streetguru]

1 minute ago, vleds123 said:

I dont like AMD

Any particular reason? They have more features now actually... If the 980ti is a lot more than $200, it wouldn't really go for it.

Any 500+W unit from like EVGA/Coolermaster/Corsair/Seasonic is probably fine

[Herman Mcpootis]

9 minutes ago, vleds123 said:

Yes unbranded I think

pony up for at least a corsair CX550, last thing you need is your rig to be killed off by a shitty PSU.

[LukeSavenije]

8 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

Any 500+W unit from like EVGA/Coolermaster/Corsair/Seasonic is probably fine

so i should just buy a n1/n2?

 

downside is that it's not sold in europe, because it doesn't meet eu security laws

[mariushm]

A 980ti consumes up to 250 watts in games.

This means it will take around 50 watts from the pci-e slot, and around 200 watts from the 8pin or 6pin connectors.

 

A video card is allowed to take up to 75w from a 6pin connector and up to 150w from a 8 pin connector, but the video card itself doesn't actually limit how much it takes from each connector, doesn't have the smarts to do it. It just detects if there's something plugged in or not in each connector.

 

Technically you could use a molex / sata to pci-e 6 pin or pci-e 6+2 pin adapter to supplement the 8 pin cable ... but it's risky those adapters are not really designed for more than 30-50 watts and a 980ti consumes a bit much.

 

A power supply with a single 8 pin connector is very fishy... look on the power supply label and write down the current listed on 12v ... that number with A at the end.

If you multiply that number with 12v, you will get how much power the power supply can provide on 12v.

A 850w power supply should have  around 700-750w / 12v = 58A or more.

 

That chinese crap probably can't do more than 500w in reality, maybe even less... if it has only one pci-e connector.

[SydneySideSteveSomewheres]

40 minutes ago, vleds123 said:

I've read somewhere that it wasn't something good to do

The page I linked has the ability to ask questions about the product...you are capable of doing that here why not there?

 

Even if your PSU only has a single stated 12 Volt rail it will still operate the machine (most PSU's only have a single main transformer anyway!).

 

Why are you worried about "something you may have read somewhere" when you own and use a PSU that you do not know if it is built to the ATX standard?

[Streetguru]

26 minutes ago, LukeSavenije said:

so i should just buy a n1/n2?

I forgot to specify gold rated, bronze rated at minimum

 

never buy a PSU with a 2 year warranty though...

[Xkillerpn]

1 - get a proper 750w gold rated psu

2- get a GTX 1070 or vega 56 on the used deals.

 

If you want a new card go with the RX5700 any with 2 fans is ok. 

[LukeSavenije]

8 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

forgot to specify gold rated, bronze rated at minimum

then you still have units like b3 that failed opp and such

 

recommend per model, not company

[SydneySideSteveSomewheres]

Another, person (GenericPNP) had a similar idea...over here...Using GTX 1080 Without all power connectors?

[SydneySideSteveSomewheres]

On the same site, they show a use case scenario for a dual SATA to an eight / six pin power adaptor for a video card...and there is a picture of a Nvidia video card's eight and six pin socket!

 

Link:

Dual SATA to 8 / 6 pin power adapter for PCI-E video card (at) Computer Online

[SydneySideSteveSomewheres]

If you are that worried and you trust eBay more there are piggy-back cables that would allow you to use your one six+two pin PCI-E cable and split that into two six+two pin cables?

 

Link:

eBay Australia your mileage may vary: PCI-E 8-Pin to Dual 8-Pin 2x (6+2 Pin) graphics video card powers splitter cable

[xAcid9]

If you value your PC, buy a better PSU. 

 

Like many unknown brand chinese PSU, the real capacity is probably half or less. 980 Ti power usage could spike to 350w and if your PSU have crappy protection it could damage or kill your other components. 

[mariushm]

2 hours ago, SydneySideSteveSomewheres said:

If you are that worried and you trust eBay more there are piggy-back cables that would allow you to use your one six+two pin PCI-E cable and split that into two six+two pin cables?

 

Link:

eBay Australia your mileage may vary: PCI-E 8-Pin to Dual 8-Pin 2x (6+2 Pin) graphics video card powers splitter cable

The SATA connectors are rated for 4.5A on 12v (there's 3 contacts each rated for 1.5A, and all three contacts are connected to  a single 12v wire going out the connector.

This means a single SATA connector is supposed to be used for MAXIMUM 12v x 4.5A = 55w , so 2 SATA connectors give you a maximum of 110 watts, nowhere near the maximum 150 watts a video card is allowed to take from a 8 pin pci-e connector.

 

In addition to that, cheap power supplies that don't have enough pci-e cables in the first place most likely source SATA connectors from cheap manufacturers with higher tolerances and less perfect contact between the connectors, so never expect to be able to take 4.5A of current through a SATA connector without the connector on the power supply starting to melt (due to contact resistance between connectors, the metal heats up and then in turn plastic on the connector starts melting)

 

Assume it's safe to use up to 3A per connector... which means a 2 SATA -> pci-e adapter would carry  2 x 3A x 12v = 72 watts, which would make such a cable relatively safe to use in a 6 pin pci-e connector on a video card that requires a 6 pin connector.

 

So my advice is NEVER use a 2 x SATA -> pci-e 6+2 adapter in a 8 pin pci-e connector, always leave the 2 extra pins aside and only use it in a 6 pin connector.

Or, only use one if you know the video card's power consumption doesn't go over around 100-120 watts (because up to 60 watts are going to come from pci-e slot, so the rest of 40-60w would be safe to get through the adapter)

 

The 2 x molex -> pci-e adapters (molex is the older mechanical drive power connector) are just a bit safer. The contacts have more surface and better friction fit, and they're rated for up to 5A, so in theory the adapter can safely transfer  2 connectors x 5A x 12v = 120 watts. 

The connectors themselves are also thicker and the pins have less chance of disconnect or short with other pins, they're in separate "chambers" in the connector, unlike with sata, and one contact goes inside another contact and makes contact in multiple places, unlike sata which is like stacking two pieces of metal and relying on pressure for the metals to stay in contact.

 

In real world, I'd be comfortable saying each connector is good for 4..4.5A, making a 2 molex => pci-e adapter OK for maybe 100 watts. 

 

---

 

later edit.

 

For those that are curious there's TWO types of SATA connectors

* molded SATA connectors

* SATA connectors made with plastic housing and individual crimped pins inserted into channels in the housing

 

The cheap adapters, like in the link above use molded connectors. Basically, they take 4 metal pins and they spot weld the wires to those pins/contacts, and then they put those metal bits into a template in a machine which injects plastic at high pressure forming the plastic housing around the pins.

It looks something like this:

 

 

They have premade white plastic thin bits, they spot weld the wires to contacts and then place the wires and contacts in some tiny depressions on the white plastic to "lock" them in place, and then everything goes inside a machine which injects the plastic over everything.

And you get the molded SATA connectors like in the link above:

 

 

Problem is you rely on the plastic to keep the pressure between connectors, which ensures good contact between the metal bits inside the connectors.

IF there's unreliable contact, there's higher resistance, which means the metal contacts will heat up, which in turn will start to heat up the white plastic base and the plastic of the connector. When the plastic warms up, it becomes looser and can expand, and there's less pressure on the contacts which in turn means poorer contact and eventually you get melted connectors.

With heat, the contacts inside can also drift a bit to the sides and create short circuits with the other contacts, or there can be electric arcs over that white material.

 

The other kind of connector uses pins where the wires are crimped to the pins, and the pins are then inserted in "slots" inside the connector.

This way, the pins can't drift sideways and short with other pins, and the contact is better because the plastic housing is made from better plastic (harder)

Here's example housing and example pins :

 

 

This kind of connector is safer to use for 2 x sata to pci-e adapters. 

 

If you really want this kind of connector but can't find adapters with them, you can buy them separately as connector + wires, and you can buy a separate adapter, cut the wires in the middle and splice the wires together... yellow to yellow, black to black (red and orange don't go anywhere, they're for 3.3v and 5v)

 

There's also a variation of this connector called press fit, where the wires are pressed down on the ends of the pins instead of being crimped... the ends "cut" into the insulation of the wire making very good contact - it's same technique as with ethernet cables. This kind of connectors is often used for cables with multiple SATA connectors.  See the last picture and you'll see what I mean. 

 

Example :

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/molex/0887511410/WM3623-ND/2405312

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/molex/0685610020/WM8714-ND/2567843

 

 

of course, the adapter cables have the female connectors, the above are the male connectors, which would be on the psu side.

[SydneySideSteveSomewheres]

59 minutes ago, mariushm said:

<snip>

 

In real world, I'd be comfortable saying each connector is good for 4..4.5A, making a 2 molex => pci-e adapter OK for maybe 100 watts. 

 

 

I was literally throwing out suggestions without adding my own preferences, that are cheaper than buying a new PSU. However, I do recommend that the OP considers that a PSU will be needed at a later time. But for the time being there are cheap options to be had, and thank you for your insight too.

 

First, I would want them to consider buying decent, quality, and gauged (thickness) wire extension adaptors, as the cheaper skinny ones have more tin. Also when connecting them into the system, plug the feed end of each of the connectors into separate cables coming from the PSU (IMPORTANT).

 

SATA +12 volts, 4.5 amps, 54 watts (the thinnest wires are in these connectors as you suggested).

Molex +12 volts, 5 amps 60 watts (more watts here obviously better).

 

The 6+2 pin PCI-E that is part of the PSU cabling should be used in the graphic card's 8 pin PCI-E slot connector, as it should be capable of outputting the higher needs of +12 volts, 4.167 amps, and 150 watts.

 

A graphics card installed into the motherboard PCI-E slot should draw 75 watts and the 6 pin PCI-E connector on that card could need up to +12 volts, 2.083 amps, 75 watts from that 6 pin adaptor, although the video card may impose a limit on trying to draw that much current from only a 6 pin PCI-E connection.

 

Therefore the dual molex 4 Pin to 8 Pin PCI-E video card power cable adaptor, which is rated to 60 watts is realistically the only contender for the OP.

[mariushm]

Another option would be pci-e 6+2/8 pin -> 2 x pci-e 6+2 / pci-e 8 pin

 

The pci-e 8 pin has 3 pairs of wires, and the contacts are good for 9A each, so a single 6+2 connector can do 3x9x12 =  ~ 325 watts.

 

So in theory, such a splitter would be safer, in comes 300 watts, out goes 150w + 150w

 

Example links:

 

0. https://www.amazon.com/JacobsParts-Express-Power-Splitter-Cable/dp/B07611QXG4/

1. https://www.amazon.com/Express-Graphics-Splitter-Extension-TeamProfitcom/dp/B07B4779M2/

2. https://www.amazon.com/COMeap-Express-Adapter-Braided-Y-Splitter/dp/B072JR4H3N/

 

 

 

Also worth noting... the numbers are valid with proper AWG18 wires... with shitty chinese power supplies, the wires may be thinner AWG20 wires or they could be copper wires mixed with steel wires or aluminum wires (because steel and aluminum is cheaper) which results in cable as thick as AWG18 wires, but with higher resistance (so technical properties of AWG20 wires)