Question MSI GTX 1080 Aero - Please Power Down and Connect PCIe Power Cable(s) For This Graphics Card

vouqez

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Aug 24, 2018
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I recently purchased a GTX 1080 Aero however whenever plugged into a system it reads 'PLEASE POWER DOWN AND CONNECT THE PCIe POWER CABLE(s) FOR THIS GRAPHICS CARD' on the screen. I have tried multiple power supplies and 2 motherboard but the issue is persistent. I have also noted the GPU 6 pin power which seems rather odd. All other cards I look at seem to be 8pin at least.
 

vouqez

Commendable
Aug 24, 2018
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Something is wrong then.

https://www.msi.com/Graphics-card/GeForce-GTX-1080-AERO-8G/Gallery#lg=1&slide=3

MSI's picture suggests, as do you, it should be 8-pin. Can you use a hardware monitor to see what GPU it thinks it is? Worst case scenario is there has been foul play.

Do you think I could have been sent a card that has been swapped out?

I have attached a photo of the card in my system when unplugged.

20190503_181100.jpg
 

vouqez

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Aug 24, 2018
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What all POWER SUPPLIES did you try ? List the model number/brand. Any decent high quality PSU must have at least TWO 6+2-PIN PCI-e connectors. Your GPU requires a SINGLE 8-PIN, so you have to use one 6+2-PIN cable.

You need to plug one 6+2-pin pci-e cable to the GPU to power it up.

I used a Corsair VS550 and a Truepower Trio 550, both which have the necessary PCIe connectors.
 

vouqez

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Aug 24, 2018
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I just took it apart and the chip itself reads, GM204-400-A1. This seems to be the chip for a GTX980

Well, that's HUGE bummer then. From where did you BUY this card ? Was it used or brand NEW ? It looks like someone slapped a GTX 980 instead of 1080, inside the video card's box. That chip is indeed the GTX 980.

From which shop, or marketplace did you actually purchase this card ?
 

vouqez

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Aug 24, 2018
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Well, that's HUGE bummer then. From where did you BUY this card ? Was it used or brand NEW ? It looks like someone slapped a GTX 980 instead of 1080, inside the video card's box. That chip is indeed the GTX 980.

From which shop, or marketplace did you actually purchase this card ?


I purchased it used from a Computer shop online, this shop generally has very good feedback but it seems this one slipped through the cracks. They have already accepted the return so all should be okay.
I looked at the power connectors on the PCB and it clearly shows that the other 8pin had a tacky de-soldering job done to it, perhaps to try and get the card to fit with the casing.
 

vouqez

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Aug 24, 2018
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Okay, that's fine then. Glad to hear that. Btw, what do you mean by "the other 8pin" ? How many connectors does this card have ? From that PIC which you have posted, it only shows a single 6-PIN.
It looks to have the 8pin connector removed via a very janky solder job, they probably removed the 8pin to to get it to fit in the casing.