Dual 6pin-to-8pin adaptor confusion

[dragonic2020]

Hello.
I just bought a new graphics card that needs 1 x 8pin PCI-e power connector but my power source only has 2 x PCI-e connectors.
The graphics card comes with a dual 6pin-to-8pin adaptor.

So I connected the 8pin side of the adaptor to the graphics card.
But then I got confused.

Do I connect one or both of the 6pin connectors to the adaptor?

 

[benski]

Both.

 

[dragonic2020]

Both.

Currently, I have one of them connected and the graphic card works.
Whats the advantage of connecting both of them?

 

[JDFan]

Currently, I have one of them connected and the graphic card works.
Whats the advantage of connecting both of them?

A single 6-pin adapter can only carry a certain amount of power (approx 75W) and you card may need more than that thus the reason they put an 8 pin adapter on the card (the added 2 ground wires make it so the adapter can safely carry 150W of power) by using just one 6-pin you are not providing enough stable power during MAX usage of the GPU and will probably have stability issues. It currently works because the card is not under heavy usage but if \when it needs more than 150W (1 6 pin + the PCI-e slot each safely provide 75W each) it may cause stability issues or will be drawing more wattage through the 6 pin wiring than it was designed to provide.

 

[benski]

The 6 pin is only rated for 75 watts while the 8 pin is rated for 150. They combine 2 6 pins in case the device using the 8 pin draws more power than the single 6 pin can handle. Most PSU manufacturers connect everything to the same 12v rail and use heavy enough wire that it doesn't matter though.

 

[dragonic2020]

Best answer selected by dragonic2020.

 

[dragonic2020]

Thank you JDFan, benski!
I'm glad to know that connecting both 6pins won't burn my card.
Gonna connect the other 6pin now.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey