Which Power Cables for GTX 680?

[jsedlak]

Just got a 680 and installed it last night (boy this thing hauls!). As I'm sure many of you know, it has both a 6-pin as well as an 8-pin plug. The GPU came with a cable that takes in two 6-pin cables and produces the 8-pin male for the card.

My PSU's PCI-E cables are all 6+2-pin, with 2x6+2 cables coming off a single plug, taking up a 12-pin socket on the PSU.

Is it safe to use a single PSU 6+2-pin, or should I continue using two 6+2-pin cables with the adapter, leaving the two extensions (the +2 part) dangling?

TIA.

 

[lehtv]

I'd rather leave the +2 pins dangling instead of converting from peripheral plugs
Just checking - what PSU do you have?

 

[blastingcap]

Leave the extension dangling. MOLEX-4-pin>PCIe 6-pin adapters are not as safe to use, in that PCIe six-pin maxes at 75W but MOLEX 4-pin is rated only up to 60W so you'd be running it out of spec. A two-MOLEX-4-pin->PCIe 6-pin is okay but that's a lot of wires and possible points of failure. I'd definitely rather let the extension dangle.

 

[jsedlak]

I'd rather leave the +2 pins dangling instead of converting from peripheral plugs
Just checking - what PSU do you have?

Seasonic 1000W Platinum
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0Platinum-1000

Leave the extension dangling. MOLEX-4-pin>PCIe 6-pin adapters are not as safe to use, in that PCIe six-pin maxes at 75W but MOLEX 4-pin is rated only up to 60W so you'd be running it out of spec. A two-MOLEX-4-pin->PCIe 6-pin is okay but that's a lot of wires and possible points of failure. I'd definitely rather let the extension dangle.

I don't think MOLEX is involved here?

The PSU has slots labeled "PCI-E" for what I can only assume is PCI Express use. Anyways, I've been running my 570 off them fine for about half a year. The cables supplied for these slots have a 6x2 pin array at the PSU end and separate out as two 6-pin cables that fit fine in the GPUs. Each one of these 6-pin cables has an extra +2-pin cable coming off it.

The 680 came with a cable that takes two 6-pin cables and connects them into a single 8-pin male, specifically for the GPU. My question is whether or not I can use a single 6-pin, with its extra 2 pins without the GPU supplied adapter.

My assumption was that it was a bad idea, so I'm not doing it, but wanted to check with AT.

 

[TemjinGold]

You are fine to use a single 6+2 from your PSU. You do not need that adaptor you have.

 

[lehtv]

Ah. Sorry for misreading. The adapter cable included is pretty weird... I mean, why would you convert two 6-pin PCIe connectors to a single 8-pin connector, when the GPU will need a third 6-pin connector? Adapters are only used when you don't have sufficient PCIe cables to begin with, so which PSU has at least three 6-pin PCIe connectors but no 6+2-pin connectors? It doesn't make sense to me. Maybe some older units...?

In any case, since your PSU does have 6+2-pin connectors, you do not need the adapter.

 

[jsedlak]

The 6+2 is coming from a single 6 pin source though, where as the GPU adapter is expecting two 6 pin sources for its 8 pin.

Does that make any difference?

 

[Itchrelief]

No, the 6+2 is coming from an 8 pin source (edit: at least it should be unless you got a crappy knockoff psu which doesn't follow standards, which i kind of doubt based on the link you posted), which can have 2 pins unused to it can act as a 6-pin in the case you need more 6-pins but not an 8-pin, as obviously the 8-pin is more capable in terms of current but the connector just will not physically fit an 6-pin socket. The two 6-pin adapter is for use if you don't have an 8 pin or a 6+2 pin. In the grand scheme of things it won't matter very much either way.

 

[TemjinGold]

OP, use the 6+2. That's what it was made for. You won't have a problem.

 

[blastingcap]

Sorry for misreading. And yes, another vote for using just the 6+2.