[SOLVED] is a 4 pin to 8 pin adapter safe?

[patriciopika]

I have seen other threads saying that you really shouldnt use an adapter and since the psu that comes with the case that i bought comes with a 4 pin cable and i dont have the budget for a new psu, is it safe to use an adapter and if it isnt, why?

 

[volkgren]

Typically no, it's not considered safe to use a 4-pin (molex?) to 8-pin PCIe adapter. Adapters are not standardized and can use thin gauge wire that can melt if too much power goes through them.

It's worrisome that you say 4-pin to 8-pin, because the 4-pin connectors are for the CPU and cannot be used for a GPU. If you mean the molex connector that has 4-pins (called molex, not 4-pin) then that would clear it up. But it's still not safe to use.

 

[USAFRet]

I have seen other threads saying that you really shouldnt use an adapter and since the psu that comes with the case that i bought comes with a 4 pin cable and i dont have the budget for a new psu, is it safe to use an adapter and if it isnt, why?

If the PSU were capable of powering a GPU that needed an 8 pin, it would have the required outputs and cables.
Since the PSU does not come with the required equipment, it is not capable of powering whatever GPU you have.

And generally, a PSU that is included with a case is badly underpowered and substandard for anything.

 

[bignastyid]

More often than not the PSUs that come with a cases are garbage quality. 8-pin cables are designed to provide more power than 4-pin and trying to pull more power than the cable was designed for is a recipe for disaster especially with a low quality PSU.

Whats more expensive a decent psu or a new system?

 

[volkgren]

^Yes! (I sometimes miss the obvious). The power supply is not meant to power a GPU requiring an 8-pin connector if the power supply does not have an 8-pin connector.

 

[patriciopika]

Typically no, it's not considered safe to use a 4-pin (molex?) to 8-pin PCIe adapter. Adapters are not standardized and can use thin gauge wire that can melt if too much power goes through them.

It's worrisome that you say 4-pin to 8-pin, because the 4-pin connectors are for the CPU and cannot be used for a GPU. If you mean the molex connector that has 4-pins (called molex, not 4-pin) then that would clear it up. But it's still not safe to use.

 

[patriciopika]

i mean the cpu, not for the gpu since im using r5 2400g and im planning to buy another psu but for the meantime should i buy adapter like startech?

 

[Gam3r01]

An adapter is pointless, considering you can just use the 4pin.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2ahuohl.png

 

[patriciopika]

An adapter is pointless, considering you can just use the 4pin.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2ahuohl.png

Yeah i know but i want to make sure nothing goes wrong with cpu melting or anything like that.

 

[Gam3r01]

That depends entirely on the PSU in question, using a 4 pin EPS in an 8 pin slot in itself wont damage anything.
That says nothing about your PSU not blowing up on its own.

 

[patriciopika]

That depends entirely on the PSU in question, using a 4 pin EPS in an 8 pin slot in itself wont damage anything.
That says nothing about your PSU not blowing up on its own.

A guy on reviews said that he has used the psu for 1 yr+ so im guessing it aint that bad but, again, is it safe to use an adapter?

 

[patriciopika]

That depends entirely on the PSU in question, using a 4 pin EPS in an 8 pin slot in itself wont damage anything.
That says nothing about your PSU not blowing up on its own.

A guy on reviews said that he has used the psu for 1 yr+ so im guessing it aint that bad but, again, is it safe to use an adapter?

 

[USAFRet]

A guy on reviews said that he has used the psu for 1 yr+ so im guessing it aint that bad but, again, is it safe to use an adapter?

"Reviews" are often useless. Is he being paid to say that? Or simply clueless? Or just lucky.

Or running a whole different parts set than you.

So far, we have exactly two pieces of information on your parts:
1. r5 2400g
2. A PSU included with the case.

I've seen reports and videos in car forums where the guy states he has run his car for 10 years without changing the oil, and it didn't die.
Doesn't mean it is a good idea, or that it would work in all cars.

 

[patriciopika]

A guy on reviews said that he has used the psu for 1 yr+ so im guessing it aint that bad but, again, is it safe to use an adapter?

"Reviews" are often useless. Is he being paid to say that? Or simply clueless? Or just lucky.

Or running a whole different parts set than you.

So far, we have exactly two pieces of information on your parts:
1. r5 2400g
2. A PSU included with the case.

I've seen reports and videos in car forums where the guy states he has run his car for 10 years without changing the oil, and it didn't die.
Doesn't mean it is a good idea, or that it would work in all cars.

Well, most reviews (17 i think) said that even though the psu was a generic brand, it was pretty good and functional and usually if you need a 4 pin to 8 pin then that means the psu aint that good and, again, i have seen many reviews of startech adapters being really good so im guessing there isnt much problem.

 

[USAFRet]

Well, most reviews (17 i think) said that even though the psu was a generic brand, it was pretty good and functional and usually if you need a 4 pin to 8 pin then that means the psu aint that good and, again, i have seen many reviews of startech adapters being really good so im guessing there isnt much problem.

You do not need an adapter.

The quality of the PSU? That's all on you.
I wouldn't.

 

[patriciopika]

Well, most reviews (17 i think) said that even though the psu was a generic brand, it was pretty good and functional and usually if you need a 4 pin to 8 pin then that means the psu aint that good and, again, i have seen many reviews of startech adapters being really good so im guessing there isnt much problem.

You do not need an adapter.

The quality of the PSU? That's all on you.
I wouldn't.

https://pcel.com/Acteck-R-500-126688 so apparently this is the included psu

 

[volkgren]

TL, DR

Just use the 4-pin for the CPU. No need for another one.

 

[patriciopika]

But the only thing im asking is if there is any problem with the adapter, if there is then i just use 4 pin, if there isnt then i just buy the adapter, its cheap anywa. Btw sorry if i sound dumb or stubborn, im a begineer

 

[volkgren]

Yes, adapters are a bad idea for the reasons mentioned earlier.

 

[USAFRet]

Btw sorry if i sound dumb or stubborn, im a begineer

And we're just trying to help you.
You're tapping into decades of collective experience here.

And generally, a no name PSU that comes included with a case is a bad idea.

 

[jankerson]

Well, most reviews (17 i think) said that even though the psu was a generic brand, it was pretty good and functional and usually if you need a 4 pin to 8 pin then that means the psu aint that good and, again, i have seen many reviews of startech adapters being really good so im guessing there isnt much problem.

You do not need an adapter.

The quality of the PSU? That's all on you.
I wouldn't.

https://pcel.com/Acteck-R-500-126688 so apparently this is the included psu

That's a 300W PSU if it can even do that much.

Get a new PSU, a good quality one.

 

[patriciopika]

Well, most reviews (17 i think) said that even though the psu was a generic brand, it was pretty good and functional and usually if you need a 4 pin to 8 pin then that means the psu aint that good and, again, i have seen many reviews of startech adapters being really good so im guessing there isnt much problem.

You do not need an adapter.

The quality of the PSU? That's all on you.
I wouldn't.

https://pcel.com/Acteck-R-500-126688 so apparently this is the included psu

That's a 300W PSU if it can even do that much.

Get a new PSU, a good quality one.

Does it the r5 2400g vega 11 draw more than 100w though, cause that psu does manage to get 300w as far as im aware, and adding up an ssd and mobo, i dont think it even draws more than 200w

 

[jankerson]

Well, most reviews (17 i think) said that even though the psu was a generic brand, it was pretty good and functional and usually if you need a 4 pin to 8 pin then that means the psu aint that good and, again, i have seen many reviews of startech adapters being really good so im guessing there isnt much problem.

You do not need an adapter.

The quality of the PSU? That's all on you.
I wouldn't.

https://pcel.com/Acteck-R-500-126688 so apparently this is the included psu

That's a 300W PSU if it can even do that much.

Get a new PSU, a good quality one.

Does it the r5 2400g vega 11 draw more than 100w though, cause that psu does manage to get 300w as far as im aware, and adding up an ssd and mobo, i dont think it even draws more than 200w

That's an extremely low quality PSU.

It needs to be replaced no matter what with a quality PSU.

You are putting the system at risk.