Do i need to use both 6 pins to power the 8 pin adapter

[ScreaminNorman]

Hello All,

Very quick question ive checked few others questions but doesnt totally answer what i need.

Ive just bought a GTX580 and it comes with 6 pin to 8 pin adapter. Do i need to use both the 6 pins to power the 8 pin connected or is it ok to use just one 6 pin to power it ??

 

[unksol]

You should probably use both if the adapter has spots for 2. but before you get ahead of yourself what is your PSU? if it has no 8 pin connectors its probably not rated to run a 580

 

[ScreaminNorman]

PSU : Avenge Power 850W.

I have just asked a friend and he said i could borrow a single 6 to 8 pin adapter for the time being.

 

[willard]

850W is plenty, though I'm not familiar with the brand.

If the card has two plugs on it, you need to fill both. If you don't, the card won't work and the computer won't boot.

 

[jsc]

You do not need the adapter.

Yes, I know that the 6 pin plug is supposedly rated for 75 watts and the 8 pin plug is supposedly rated for 150 watts. But take a close look at the "6+2" 8 pin connector.

It is really a 6 pin connector with 2 extra ground wires (the "+2" part) daisy chained off of the 6 pin plug. The power cable itself has three 12 volt wires (the yellow wires) and three black wires (the ground lines).

/start rant
I have been doing this (and related) stuff for better than 50 years. And I just do not see how adding two extra ground wires will miraculously double the power capacity of a cable.
/end rant