[SOLVED] Asus's 3080 3x 8pin PCIe Power supply question

[derdotte]

Hello,
so the new GPUs are coming out and i am currently considering the 3080 as a fine upgrade to my older card. I am currently using this PSU:
https://www.chieftec.eu/en/psus/ps-2/navitas-series/gpm-1000c.html
It only has 2 PCIe 8 pin connectors, while the 3080 of Asus will need 3.
So i am considering buying a new PSU which supports 3 or in the worst case use an adapter for 2x Molex to PCIe but i dont think that is safe, considering that 12,5 A would run through a few thin cables. Do you think the PSU can handle it? Its rated for 1000W with an efficiency at 90% (its 4 years old now, so probably going down to 80% or so).
I asked Chieftec through mail, they say its safe if i use one of their adapter (Of course they would, they wanna sell stuff). Hoepfully someone is a bit more tech savvy in terms of PSUs here and can help.

If not can you suggest a few PSUs that would be good enough? Price range doesnt matter for now, although preferably below the 200€ mark.

 

[drivinfast247]

DO NOT USE MOLEX TO PCI-E adapters. If your PSU does not have the proper connections you need a new PSU.

 

[derdotte]

DO NOT USE MOLEX TO PCI-E adapters. If your PSU does not have the proper connections you need a new PSU.

Well yeah, thats what i read everywhere. Do you have suggestions about PSU that would be good enough? System currently is a maximus hero x, 8700k, 3200 Mhz ram, a few SSD/large HDD and a 1080 strix OC.

 

[DSzymborski]

Actually, while good Chieftecs are a rarity, this was on a higher performing CWT platform, the same as some of the Thermaltake Toughpower Grands. If this is the PSU you have, yes, it has two PCIE 6+2 cables in the built-in portion, but it's also supposed to come with modular cables for four additional PCIE 6+2 connectors.

If the modular cables are lost replacing them may be a pain; this isn't a popular brand/platform for aftermarket cables (and remember, modular cable pinouts are not universal on the PSU side).

 

[derdotte]

Yes, it should but did not. The guy from Chieftec said that this might be because they produced two versions and i might have gotten one of the older ones that were running out (short straw i guess, did not even know that).
I am currently looking through a few PSUs that sound good like:

https://www.bequiet.com/en/powersupply/1767 and its 1000W version (for extra leeway)
But also some from ASUS themself like:
https://www.asus.com/uk/Graphics-Cards-Accessories/ROG-THOR-850P/
anything to add or remove here?

edit: Changed the PSU to the correct one for bequiet, its 850W.

 

[derdotte]

If this is the PSU you have, yes, it has two PCIE 6+2 cables in the built-in portion, but it's also supposed to come with modular cables for four additional PCIE 6+2 connectors.

Sorry for the double post, i wonder those 4 additional PCIE 6+2 connectors are those the 4 black ones next to the two red ones? Since they are only 6 pins and not 8 pins. I basically considered them as Molex only. This is a bit confusing.

 

[DSzymborski]

Sorry for the double post, i wonder those 4 additional PCIE 6+2 connectors are those the 4 black ones next to the two red ones? Since they are only 6 pins and not 8 pins. I basically considered them as Molex only. This is a bit confusing.

If this is the PSU you have, the built in ones should have two 6+2 pin connectors and the red ports on the PSU should be two connectors, each with two 6+2 pin connectors. It's right in your link! Specs on websites can be wrong, of course, but it would be odd to have only two 6+2 pin connectors on a PSU that's legitimately 1000W. Are you positive this is the model? There's only a single 1000W Gold-rated Chieftec.

Better safe than sorry, in the end of course. I know I always swap out warranty-expired PSUs, no matter how good or even if I have a single tiny suspicion.

It's a supreme irony if possibly the only time I argue for keeping a Chieftec results in it not being kept! lol

 

[derdotte]

Yes this is the PSU. The connectors are exactly as seen in this picture:
https://www.chieftec.eu/images/stories/virtuemart/product/02189.jpg
am i supposed to use the black connectors instead of the red for the 6+2 connections? That would be weird.

Cant do much if the Chieftec does not meet the requirements, if so i would have kept it too since it has been running well even 4 years after buying it.

 

[DSzymborski]

Yes this is the PSU. The connectors are exactly as seen in this picture:
https://www.chieftec.eu/images/stories/virtuemart/product/02189.jpg
am i supposed to use the black connectors instead of the red for the 6+2 connections? That would be weird.

Cant do much if the Chieftec does not meet the requirements, if so i would have kept it too since it has been running well even 4 years after buying it.

No, according to the specs, the non-modular cables should have two PCIE 6+2 connectors and there should be four PCIE 6+2 connectors, likely split over two modular cables, to plug into the red ones.

Was this originally bought new? It sounds a lot like you're simply missing some cables.

(As for running well, that's always a guess unless you have some serious specialist equipment to test. It's a solid platform, so it probably has, but it's useful to remember that you never actually know; we mostly guess based on the quality of the PSU, since components being alive/dead isn't remotely a sufficient diagnostic measure).

 

[derdotte]

No, according to the specs, the non-modular cables should have two PCIE 6+2 connectors and there should be four PCIE 6+2 connectors, likely split over two modular cables, to plug into the red ones.

Was this originally bought new? It sounds a lot like you're simply missing some cables.

It was bought new yes. The interface for the connectors at the back simply does not have the other PCIe connections necessary if they are marked in red. There are only 2 Red, 4 Black. The guy from Chieftec said in a mail its because there were two versions produced, one with the interface i have and one with more connections at the back.