PCI-E Adapter question regarding new graphics card

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xjustice

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Oct 4, 2017
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I'm getting an MSI R9 380 from a friend. Problem is the card needs two 6-pin PCI-E connectors. Other problem is my PSU only has one 6-pin PCI-E connector.

My question being, would I be okay to buy a 6-pin PCI-E y splitter that will split into two 6-pin PCI-E connectors? Or would I need to buy another PSU with more plugins or something? I am not hardware savvy when it comes to PC's, so I don't know what my options are here.

I am not asking if I should get a Molex-to-PCI-E splitter. I've attached a picture of what I'm looking at getting, though maybe the molex-to-pci would be better, I don't know.

Thanks! :)

31Qp7gqZmXL.jpg
 
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no


get a new power supply with the proper pcie connectors


550w from a quality make and model like this:


https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817438120
 
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I think the PSU can handle it, it just doesn't have the PCI-E power cable. I don't have the money right now to buy another power supply. I have 2 more molex connectors I Can plug an adapter into, which I'm assuming is the same thing as having a standalone PCI-E connection. Instead of buying a splitter, I have to take a chance at buying the connector and hoping it works. It has enough connections, just not the PCI-E connection.
 
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What PSU is it exactly ??

What CPU are you running ??


Without that information you are not going to get a single person say 'yes its ok' who is actually worth listening to.

Any PSU that only has a single 6 pin connector is generally very low wattage in real world terms , very old , or worse -
absolute crap that has been mislabelled with a higher wattage rating than it deserves.

The adapter you linked is incredibly dangerous as it gives someone the ability to plug 2 8 pin connectors off a single 6 pin cable.

That 6 pin is rated at 75w , 2 x pins are rated at up to 300w!!!

Which if someone did that could have disastrous consequences!!

Those cables should not be sold let alone used.
 
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I have a Coolmax V-500 PSU right now. I also have an Antec SL400. I also have an Ultra 600W PSU that I used to use, but now after about 15-20 minutes of use my GPU goes blank. The computer stays on but the screen goes black. I think it's overheating and causing a failure?
CPU is an i5-3330

I don't have the money right now to invest in a new power supply. So I'm hoping maybe I get by with just the molex-to-pci adapter until I can afford a better PSU.
 
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The ultra 600 can do 400w max at 40c , the antec is a 240w unit in reality.

The coolmax is actually the best of your 3 units & I still would not entertain running an adapter on it personally.

As Rob says above the choice is yours there though.

If the coolmax is actually crapping out now then adding a 180w GPU to it is only going to make things worse.
 
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The coolmax is fine, I've had no problems out of it. The Ultra PSU is the one that's had the issues. I'll try the option but not long term. I'll buy a PSU as soon as possible, possibly within a week or two at most.
 
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No it is not a good idea.

If you can't afford a new PSU (not that expensive) start saving to buy a new PSU, CPU, MOBO & GPU. That's how wrong it can go, and you'll get no warning, just like your one that leads to a blank screen, you'll just get a blank screen, maybe a puff of smoke, maybe a spark, and then nothing.
 
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Hey man its your house, but theres a whole bunch of people here whom are very knowledgeable telling you to buy a new PSU, and I highly agree with them. Ultra and Coolmax are house fire quality PSUs. The Antec is too small to run that GPU.

Or you could continue on the path you seem to just want to be reassured of, and you inevitably WILL damage your equipment, it just depends how much. We see this every day here.
 
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The pins in that white connector are only rated at 5A at 12v DC. And that's at a perfect connection. That's a total of 180w possible on those 3 hot leads. Those R9 390's can draw over 300w, depending on the model. With 70w from the pcie slot, that still leaves a possibility of a 230w+ draw from the pcie. That's 50w over the max limit of the individual pins, or @ 6.4A per hot pin. That's going to create a bunch of heat at the pins, which raises resistance values, which raises amperage, which raises heat... What happens next is something even Cavemen knew, get things hot, they burn. It's called FIRE.

Call it paranoia if you wish, but setting a $1000 worth of pc equipment on fire because your impatience prompted the use of a $6 connector vrs the right size $50 psu is usually called Idiocy in my house.
 
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Using that PCIe splitter cable like that can lead to the potential melting of the connectors. Not just from increased power, but every additional connection also creates larger voltage drops across theat wire, which is bad enough in a PSU that already is going to be group regulated and have poor regulation. That can result in such a low voltage across those PCIe cables that the GPU encounters problems.
 
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You are putting 180w into a card that's already capable of 230w+ just on the pcie. Forget about voltage drops, the cards already got serious power issues if using a single 6 to dual 8pin connectors. You'd be lucky to just melt that connection, not to mention melting the insulation as you try and pull 15A through a 18ga wire that is rated for 7A but will handle 10A. Lastly that's not including that Coolmax psu, a triple rail rated at 18/18/15 @12v.

End result. Somethings gonna burn up. No ifs, no ands, no buts.
 
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Thanks for all the responses. I went with the connector (Even though I did plan to buy a PSU within a week's time.) It ran for about 20 minutes and then went to a blank screen along with fans losing power (no load, it went blank as I was installing the drivers.) Turned the PC off, turned it back on with it still hooked up and it came back on like it should. Powered up and fans came on with proper graphics showing on screen. Turned the PC off, removed the graphics card and molex connector, hooked my GTS 450 back in and will buy a new PSU next week. :) Thanks for all the responses. I'm about 100% sure nothing burned up. The card didn't overheat. The PSU didn't give out. The GPU didn't lose complete power, the lights still worked and it still showed like it should. I know now that this PSU is far too weak to handle it but I Wanted to see first hand. Could have ended a lot worse and I should have heeded you guys' word in the first place. Lesson learned and disaster avoided. My next question being this...what is a good PSU?

I'm looking into buying a 600W EVGA from Bestbuy for $50 with 2 independent 6-pin PCI connectors. No molex. Or there is a Thermaltake TR2 for sale locally (Assuming used) for $30 with the two connections but it's only 500w. I'm pretty much sold on the 600W for $50 if you guys tell me it's a good one. It's an EVGA 80 Plus 600W ATX PSU. Model number "100-W1-0600-K1 "

Thanks for all your help, guys.
 
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I see you are into 'learning by doing', I'd suggest that's only a good idea on subjects that won't land you with a big bill, or a fire.

That turning off and being able to turn on again, you got lucky, very lucky.

It could very easily have been it turned off, and that was it, no more functioning PSU, and potentially no more functioning mobo/cpu/gpu/ram/hdd's.

Learning by reading when these are the possible outcomes is a lot better idea.
 
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That EVGA is not the best quality. Your store should carry Corsair. The Corsair CX550M should be priced similarly, is better quality, and enough power, and will have the connectors you need.

The Thermaltake is junk new or used. And everything 13thmonkey says applies, you got real lucky.
 
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either Power Supply: Corsair - CX (2017) 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $49.99

I am a preacher of a little more power will only create a better "power draw buffer" I would say 650w or 750w, fo that later upgrades don't have to involve another psu. is it required.. no.. but if your system needs 450w and you have 550w you bigger draw (90%) versus 450w draw on a 750w psu. (60%)
just saying.

Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $74.99
 
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Did you even have the PC under any type of heavy load when the screen went black? You did not describe what you were doing. Gaming? Web browsing? Those are two very different things, because a web browsing load with the R9 380 (i.e. idle) is a lighter load than your previous GPU under actual load. In which case, if those were the circumstances, I'd suspect that GPU you received is actually a dud. Not saying that the PSU is any good, but that's usually what a black screen indicates, GPU problem.

I would like to know if you were under heavy load or not.
 
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It was under no type of load. I was installing the drivers for the GPU when the screen went black, but it lost power completely from the PSU. The fans stopped turning. I'm getting a new PSU tonight to try out and see if that's it. I received it from a friend, whom I completely trust. I know that doesn't mean it's a not faulty GPU but it is brand new. Still in the wrapper. Zero dust. So if it is faulty, then it came faulty from the factory to him. Not out of the realm of possibility, so luckily I didn't pay anything for it. I will just send back to him if it turns out to be the GPU.

However I do think it is just that my PSU can not handle the GPU. Plus people said don't hook up through molex which is how I had it. So not enough wattage + molex = fail. I have noticed my PSU being rather loud lately even under no load. So I'm guessing and hoping that's what it is. We'll see tonight with this new PSU if it is the GPU or PSU.
 
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