Possible to CrossFire 2 6870s with Rosewill Hive 650w?

Convik

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Aug 12, 2014
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I currently have an XFX 6870 with Rosewill HIVE 650w PSU. I am looking to get a slight upgrade by buying another 6870 to CrossFire but I am not sure if it is possible with my PSU.

My PSU has two 8-pin connectors that both go to my 6870 (6-pins). I am not sure what the difference or if there is a difference between the 6 and 8-pin connectors on my PSU. It labels them as the 8-pin PCI-E and the 6-pin SATA connectors. Since the 6870s only use 6 pins, could I connect another GPU using the 6-pin connectors, or are those different connection types?

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182132
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150561
 
Solution
The SATA conductors are a smaller gauge wire, not designed for the possible load of the gfx card. They may also be a different wiring layout that won't provide +12 and ground to correct terminals. And the connectors wouldn't fit anyway.

If you really must use that PSU for 2 x 151W HD 6870s, you could buy a couple of these to split each single 6+2 connector into 2.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200935
But do it knowing the risk.
You need to have both 6 pin headers populated before the card will work. For 2 x HD 6870 cards, you will need 4 6 pin connectors. The PSU only has 2. That is a dead give-away that the PSU is not intended for that kind of load. Yes, you could use some adapters, but it is not advisable.
 


Can you clarify what you mean by 6-pin connectors? My PSU has 2 8-pin sockets which connect to my 6870 using a 6+2-pin connector (but only 6-pins are connected). That is why I was wondering if the other four 6-pin sockets on my PSU would support a second 6870, or are the 8-pin sockets physically different?

 


No you are correct about that. My question is if it is possible to power my GPU using the other 6-pin sockets label BLACK - SATA. Since 6870s only use 6-pins, what is stopping me from using a 6-pin connector using the SATA socket to the 6pins on a second 6870? I am hoping that the connections are the same, and they are labeled as SATA because those are the cables that they include with the PSU.
 
The SATA conductors are a smaller gauge wire, not designed for the possible load of the gfx card. They may also be a different wiring layout that won't provide +12 and ground to correct terminals. And the connectors wouldn't fit anyway.

If you really must use that PSU for 2 x 151W HD 6870s, you could buy a couple of these to split each single 6+2 connector into 2.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200935
But do it knowing the risk.
 
Solution


Exactly what I was looking for. I probably won't use that depending on the risk but it is good to know. Thank you.