Need instructions for spliting power from a 6 pin PCIE to 4 pin molex.

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aznstriker92

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Oct 19, 2007
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Hi I have a Dell dimension E510 and the stock psu with 305 watts(dual 12v rails, 22 amps). Dell underrates their psu's. I've asked around and people say that I can run a 3780. But it seems that I don't have a 6 pin PCI express connector so I was wondering how to split the power from a 4 pin molex power connector.
What are the necessary steps in doing this?

Thanks.

 
I already know that I cannot put dual slot cards. Im going to wait for the single slot solutions. ex. heat pipe. What is the splitter? is it something I buy?
Or is it the converter from 4 pin to 6 pin?
 
The splitter will work.

FYI: At one point in time there was an issue with the splitters that you could buy on newegg. You had to cut one of the wires for it to work...
 
So I would just have to buy the cord, plug the black pin into the graphics card and then plug one of the white pins into a 4 pin from the mobo.

right?
 


No. You plug BOTH white molex connectors to the power supply molex, NOT the mobo.
 
I missed that completely. He would be hard pressed to find a place to plug it in.

I think that two Molex connectors are provided so that you can put them on different rails. Since I am sure that PSU only has a total of two rails and one of them is dedicated to the mobo, then you can use only one of the Molex connectors. Using both would be redundant.
 


I missed that too, but I figure he would have known that there aren't any four pin power leads coming off his motherboard, and Zorg has explained the rest.
 
Ok when I put mobo, I meant the psu.
So now im confused. One person is telling me to try to plug 2 4 pin molexes, and another is telling me to plug one in.

Heres what I think.
1. I buy the molex
2. plug it the 6 pin side in to the card
3. plug one(?) molex into the extension (if needed)
4. plug the extension into the psu(but where on the psu? the 4 pin from the psu?)

If not using the extension, I
Do 1. and 2.
3. plug one(?) molex into the psu. (4 pin?)

I think I almost have this.
 



Great advise, as alway. I would still opt to use both Molex connecter (One would work, as most molex on PSU are on the same rail). My reason is that it reduces the I squared R losses, using both connecters reduces the Current in each molex by halve. Very small advantage, but if available might as well use it.
 
@Op -
You'll need to plug in both molex connectors - if you don't, you won't have enough juice going to the 6pin.
Normally, a molex has pin 1 suppling 12V, pin 4 is 5V and 2 and 3 are ground. 6pin pci-e has pins 1-3 suppling 12V and 4-6 are ground.
Its hard to tell from a picture, but the first duel molex to 6pin adaptor looks like its routing the 12V and ground from each to the 6pin (you don't need the 5V for the GPU card). You don't get all 3 12V lines since the molex can only supply two - but its probably enough for your card (check to see what kind of 12V amperage you need).
As for the rails - its a nice bonus if you can get the molex on seperate rails if you PSU supports that. But even if on one rail, you need both connectors so that you can get both 12V lines from each molex to the 6pin pci-e.

Later,
Sdrac

@delluser1: the later connector you showed only had one molex. I'd be careful trying to use that one as you could underpower the GPU.
 
Wow im totally lost now.
Ok for once and for all.
I will buy that splitter that Delluser put, and a 3870 soon.
I will connect the molex into ONE 4pin connector from the psu since the splitter only has one.

Hopefully I won't have a bottleneck or have my psu and graphic card get nuked. If my psu goes will my card too?
 
DellUser1 - You are correct in that they only route the +12/Gnd from the molex. However, as Zorg and I pointed out one could probably handle the current, as 70 W is only Approx 6A.

But he may need both depending on pinout on graphic card. On the card 6 pin the grounds are probably shorted together. The +12V pins on the graphics may not be connected. This would have to be verified by ohm meter. It's simpler to just use both molexs.
 
@dell - I didn't know the wattage on the card was that low. If thats the case, then technically azn doesn't even need the 6pin connector (sans overclocking). At that wattage, I agree one molex would do the trick - but...

@azn - maybe I'm just the parnoid type, but if I'm spending the money on a new card I'd personally feel more comfortable playing it safe and use the dual connector.

Later,
Sdrac
 


RC,
This is the same point I was making. There are plenty of people on the Dell forum who are using a Molex Y into a Molex to PCIE splitter, which equates to a single line. This is with an 8800 GT on the same psu.
 
Sorry DellUser1, I should have pointed toward SDRAC, Again sorry.

I just turned my computer off. demated the 6 pin. On My Graphics card the Gnds are shortted together as I figured. The +12 V are also shorted together on the card. Not sure if this is standardized and if it is then the molexs +12 power MUST come from one rail when using the "Y"
 
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