Down with Molex!!

[AnomalyX]

Who here hates molex connectors?

1) Difficult to unplug. (try it in a small space. Do you like your knuckles?)

2) Difficult to plug in. (Are you sure it's plugged in all the way? Each wire?)

3) Too damn large. (Try grouping a bunch into a small area...)

4) Findng orientation (using 2 fingers to put it on....which is the right side???)

5) Ugly... (They are there...)

No poll needed. Who has some ideas to use some other design?

[Voltron]

The Mole has been around to long.. it's about time we change it out huh. It would be hell to have to buy all new hardware to match the new plug though.

[Susquehannock]

Hate 'em!
I cut them off and use bullet connectors wherever possible. Making
your own custom wiring harness really cleans things up too. :D

[subtotal]

i've heard that theres a new 6 pin gormat (3X2)... personally i think something along the lines of a sata connector would do the trick

[Electron Chaser]

I'm more in favor of an Amphenol type connector. So as you unscrew it it helps to unplug it for you and you don't need a set of pliers to pull the thing off.

[zip22]

there are also discussions of how crappy molex connections are electrically speaking.

i cant find the thread right now

[Aslan]

The Mole has been around to long.. it's about time we change it out huh. It would be hell to have to buy all new hardware to match the new plug though.

I don't think it would be too bad. We could probably just buy adapters initially and move away as we upgrade. A new PSU might be in order, but I think that even with this, we could just take the molexes off and put a new connector on.

[SavageBasher]

Hate 'em!
I cut them off and use bullet connectors wherever possible. Making
your own custom wiring harness really cleans things up too. :D

Bullet connectors have really high resistance, possibly more than a molex...

[Vrykyl]

i like the legacy power connectors some of the new sata drives/psus have on em - nice and small

[Nico3k]

Are you kidding me... Molex connectors are sooo awesome... they start fires and almost burn down my house! I mean seriously how could you live without that. :eek:

[Nebulous]

Are you kidding me... Molex connectors are sooo awesome... they start fires and almost burn down my house! I mean seriously how could you live without that. :eek:


:eek: :eek:

[Susquehannock]

Bullet connectors have really high resistance, possibly more than a molex...

Excellent point. :)
Which is the reason behind a custom harness with solder conns
wherver possible. The bullets are good for side panel fans for
quick disassembly etc...

[larrymoencurly]

Doesn't everybody take a jeweler's screwdriver and pry between each connector and the plastic to make them fit tight? This might prevent some burns.

[SavageBasher]

That would require time and patience. People don't have either. :p

[danman81]

3 Pin Mini Plugs All The Way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kill The Molex! Kill It Now!!!!

[L337 M33P]

Needs moar 20 amp 20-way screw terminal block on motherboard instead of ATX

http://img-europe.electrocomponents.com/largeimages/C425055-14.jpg

[DocGiggs]

you could get those vantec EZ grip molex connectors... I use them and like them a helluva lot better then the standard molex connectors. Much easier to use those. Plus, you can get them in a variety of different colors.

[z0n3]

I like the vantec connectors as well. They solve a lot of problems. Put them on all the computers in house so I never have to here this again,"Hi,...ugh... yeah the computer is broken. I tried unhooking some thing and... its like not working. My hand kinda hit the RAN. Its like in two, is it supposed to be like?"

This happend twice. Also I did miss type RAM on purpose, she called it RAN.

ps-when trying to make a loved one more tech savey never buy them a DVD drive and let them hook it up themselves, it never turns out well, never.

[Electron Chaser]

I like the vantec connectors as well. They solve a lot of problems. Put them on all the computers in house so I never have to here this again,"Hi,...ugh... yeah the computer is broken. I tried unhooking some thing and... its like not working. My hand kinda hit the RAN. Its like in two, is it supposed to be like?"

This happend twice. Also I did miss type RAM on purpose, she called it RAN.

ps-when trying to make a loved one more tech savey never buy them a DVD drive and let them hook it up themselves, it never turns out well, never.


Though that coule work out to your advantage. "What am I doing? Funny you should ask that. I'm just changing out this HD out. Why don't I show you how to do it. All you have to do is pull this connector off. and unplug this ribbon cable and. OMG my MB is ruined!!!! Why did you have to pull on it so hard, Well it probably took out the CPU too. Oh yeah a blow like that could easily destroy the CPU as well. Well I guess I gotta go buy a new MB and CPU now."
LOL

[voodoomelon]

I think the biggest bitch I have with Molex’s, and most people who have bought a top end-ish video card in the last year will agree, is the connecting and disconnecting them from the connector on the card.

There is nothing that p*sses me off more than trying to disconnect a Molex from that thing, it is the ultimate p*sser off in my book, it drives me mental! :mad:

You also have to hate the whole wiggling thing, getting a Molex out of a CD drive.

Wiggle wiggle. Nothing. Wiggle wiggle. Nothing. Wiggle wigg... BAMMMM.
Bye bye knuckles and anything that just got in the way.

Arrrgghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
:mad: :mad:

[tom10167]

I agree. It's really a rush watching my 9700 pro fold in half when I try and plug the molex connector it.

I've never had difficulty plugging a molex in, but I agree with everything else. It'd be nice if it was just three wires(What's the 4th wire for anyways?) and they came wrapped up already in to one 'wire.'(Like every single thing electronic made since 1985)

Don't even get me started on the inflexible monster that is the ATX plug.

[CandymanCan]

Doesn't everybody take a jeweler's screwdriver and pry between each connector and the plastic to make them fit tight? This might prevent some burns.


Yea over tiem they ware out so i have to take like flat head screw driver and reclose them tight, sux cuss over time that even fails.


I think the biggest bitch I have with Molex’s, and most people who have bought a top end-ish video card in the last year will agree, is the connecting and disconnecting them from the connector on the card.

There is nothing that p*sses me off more than trying to disconnect a Molex from that thing, it is the ultimate p*sser off in my book, it drives me mental! :mad:

You also have to hate the whole wiggling thing, getting a Molex out of a CD drive.

Wiggle wiggle. Nothing. Wiggle wiggle. Nothing. Wiggle wigg... BAMMMM.
Bye bye knuckles and anything that just got in the way.

Arrrgghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
:mad: :mad:


On top of that i sometimes forget to plugg them back in when im done re hooking my pc up and when i turn my pc on i get that anoyying BEEEEP from my video card

[J So]

It's funny to me that more and more people are complaning about the molex.. the only problems I have ever had is when using those stupid pass through connectors on fans.. for some reason they never seem to line up right.. you think it's hooked up right.. press and then you notice the barbs have been pushed out the back... lot of fun

[xTrEmEoVrClOcKr]

The worst thing is, is when your a newb (back in the day) and you put your components on loose power connectors along with your lighting, extras, and IMPORTANT components and your comp crashes. I had to re cable manage because my disgusting Allied PSU connectors sucked. I seriously wish they would come out with something different.

[austinbmxnig]

yea, nothing gets adrenaline pumping like a molex connector on a video card, there is no telling what you are gonna rape when that thing pops loose.

[Voodoo Rufus]

The reason Molex's are used is solely because they are CHEAP!

I wish the PC industry would take a hint from the Radio Control industry and use zero loss connectors and lower gauge wire.

http://www.overclockers.com/tips1139/pic1.jpg

[9mmCensor]

What are the alternatives to Molex? (what do they look like too>?)

[Voodoo Rufus]

Astroflight or W.S. Deans type connectors. Copper with gold plating, very firm connections.

[AnomalyX]

The reason Molex's are used is solely because they are CHEAP!

I wish the PC industry would take a hint from the Radio Control industry and use zero loss connectors and lower gauge wire.

http://www.overclockers.com/tips1139/pic1.jpg

Ooh!!! Now we have something! Tell me and US more, sites & explainations...

:clap:

[Susquehannock]

The reason Molex's are used is solely because they are CHEAP!

I wish the PC industry would take a hint from the Radio Control industry and use zero loss connectors and lower gauge wire.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Very good point.

At least some PSU makers like Fortron and PCP&C use 18ga wires.
Unlike many cheaper brands which use 22ga. :eek:

My humble advice is to do away with as many connectors as possible
in favor of solder. :attn:

[jamie_bkc]

just an idea but couldn't you like attatch two r/c deans plugs ontop of each other instead of molex? it wouldn't be too hard to swap them over either.

[Voodoo Rufus]

For a while Deans made 3 and 4 pin connectors. Perfect for HDD type duty.

AnomolyX, were you referring to where the pic came from? If so, here's linkage:
http://www.overclockers.com/tips1139/

[AnomalyX]

I actually didn't mean to include the pic with the Quote, but I'm glad I did. Thank you for the article. I'm sure other poeple might have some thoughts and ideas from it, like I did. One thing I did was to look up "zero loss connectors" on Google, to find that there are many sites that sell them. I'm really thinking about replacing all my Molex connectors with the ZLC. It would be a project, but might be worth it. Time for some research.

One thing to research is if you really need 2 grounds (black leads) on the connector, or will one "good and solid" ground will do. since one type of ZLC has 3 leads only and should be enough to replace the 4 lead Molex.

[Voodoo Rufus]

I am pretty sure that all ground wires share the same common ground. Should be safe.

[Susquehannock]

They also sell 3pin ZLC if that's what you mean.

IMO, direct soldering is still the better alternative if at all possible.
Bullets are a lot cheaper than ZLC. How much would the increased resistance
of those connectors really affect a fan?
No heat issues I can see so far. (120mm Tornado)