Sapphire 6850 with two power connectors? What now?

[BadOmen]

Greetings. I just got a Sapphire hd 6850 and noticed that, differently from all pictures I had seen on reviews, it has two power connectors, like the 6870. What I understood from the far from great manual is that the card should need one for normal operation and two for Crossfire.

So I plugged just one connector from the PSU and it didn't even pass POST. The VGA POST led on my Asus P7P55D-E mobo got lit steadily.

Although only the 6870 was supposed to need two connectors, is that possible that the newer 6850s also need them now?

And my main question: Is it safe to plug a second 6-pin connector (without Crossfire), and see if it works, or the problem has probably nothing to do with power?

Any idea is greatly appreciated
Thanks a lot

 

[skipsneeky2]

Maybe it is a 6870 with a 6850 sticker?

Would be crazy if that's the case.

 

[timma]

maybe it's 6870 PCB and apply the 6850......
Gigabyte 6850 have two fan......haha

 

[Madcatatlas]

link to the card you bought would help greatly

 

[Bearach]

My ASUS 6850 has 2, 6 pin connectors too. I believe it could be just about supplying enough power to overclock better? I'm not sure, I have 1 with 1 connector, and 2 others with 2.

It was safe to plug in 2, 6 pins into my 6850's.

 

[notty22]

Its definitely safe and preferred to plug in both connectors if thats the way your video card came.
I'm pretty sure the Saphire Toxic came with 2.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...50%20toxic

 

[Absolution75]

Yeah, I have two Sapphire 6850's, one I bought when they were first released, and one just recently. One has a single power connector and the other has two.... Its odd. Nothing really that cool about it though (not clocked like a 6870), but you could probably OC.

 

[BadOmen]

Here's the link for the card:
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=56...cture=SAPPHIRE

(even the link at Sapphire's website still shows the old box)

The Toxic uses two connectors, but based on what I read, the card is originally overclocked and would need extra power for that.

The fact that the card didn't pass POST with one connector only was very strange. Anyway, I'll try with a second one and post the results

 

[CraigRT]

The fact that the card didn't pass POST with one connector only was very strange. Anyway, I'll try with a second one and post the results

Is it?
So its not like they put 2 plugs on there for any reason?
If there are 2 plugs on my graphics adapter, I use both. Oddly works every time.

 

[Termie]

Interesting that some models of the 6850 are now coming with 2 connectors...I think the use of one connector was probably right on the edge of stability with the 6850, considering the very slightly more power-hungery 5850 and 6870 had two. For overclocking, it makes perfect sense that you'd need two connectors.

And OP - while the instructions may have said you could use just one connector, I've never heard of that as an option before. Using two would both be safe, and as you've found, probably required.

 

[sangyup81]

Hook them both us

In the words of Tim Allen from Home Improvement "MORE POWER!"

 

[Stuka87]

As I recall the power draw differences between the 6850 and the 6870 are not that much different. So to me it makes sense that the 6850 has two connectors on it.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

I read about this in reviews and it was a bit disconcerting to me, as I'm shopping for a new card and was hoping to get a lower power one.

The TDP rating for the 6850 is 127W, for the 6870 it's 151W. The crossover point for needing two 6-pin power connectors is 150W so I had my eye on a 6850. 24W is quite a difference, IMO. But if the companies are just overclocking the cards or sharing a PCB design that requires the same (higher) power, then... that card isn't as appealing anymore.

 

[Spikesoldier]

i would consider the second 6pin you werent expecting as an added bonus.

its perfectly safe to plug both in.

 

[Absolution75]

If anyone wants, I can try to run the 2nd card without the 2nd 6 pin under load and see how stable it is.

 

[BadOmen]

So its not like they put 2 plugs on there for any reason?
If there are 2 plugs on my graphics adapter, I use both. Oddly works every time.

They do. And the reason, according to manual, product box, reviews and company website, is Crossfire. I don't feel exactly safe to go against every single printed/online reference available and stick something in just because an empty slot was staring at me with puppy eyes.

Anyway, the card only works with the two 6-pin connectors plugged. Once I added the second one, everything was fine. So, whoever out there is planning to buy the Sapphire hd5850, be aware that your PSU will need two of those.

Ahh, Sapphire... I really like your stuff, but typing sapphiretech.com in a browser is like entering the Bizarro World.

Thank you all for your help! Much appreciated

 

[Elixer]

I guess they could be using the same reference board as their 6870 cards--perhaps they ran out of 6850 boards.

In any case, just because it has 2 power plugs, don't mean that it is going to use more power, unless they tweaked it to require more power.

 

[Spikesoldier]

usually with electronics, if something is not required, it is left off the PCB in an effort to save money.

if it didnt require the second connector, then they would omit it and sapphire would have loved to save the penny or two it would have cost.

im putting my money on a non reference pcb.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

They do. And the reason, according to manual, product box, reviews and company website, is Crossfire. I don't feel exactly safe to go against every single printed/online reference available and stick something in just because an empty slot was staring at me with puppy eyes.

Anyway, the card only works with the two 6-pin connectors plugged. Once I added the second one, everything was fine. So, whoever out there is planning to buy the Sapphire hd5850, be aware that your PSU will need two of those.

Ahh, Sapphire... I really like your stuff, but typing sapphiretech.com in a browser is like entering the Bizarro World.

Thank you all for your help! Much appreciated

Typo? If it is that is a huge mistake. 5850's usually have two pci-e connectors. I havn't seen one without it.

 

[dakU7]

Just got my ASUS EAH6850 DCU, it also has two 6pin power connectors.
Can't see why tho, this card only pulls about 130W.