Using Molex to PCIe adapters

[mxthunder]

I read somewhere that its bad to use these adapters for long term usage, I am using two of them for one of my 4890's. I am thinking that my PSU and or possibly these adapters could be causing some of the instability with my video card OC's lately and making my games lock up. I never could OC as well in CF mode as I could when I had just a single card installed.

Does anyone else use the adapters long term?

I was thinking about pickin up that new corsair tx950

[thideras]

I see absolutely no reason why you couldn't use them....

[Evilsizer]

well the only thing with the adapters is that you are missing one 12v pin and one true ground pin. if you look they are jumpering the two grounds to the middle ground pin. though using the adapters wouldnt limit the oc'ing while in cf.

i would have to say the psu is the problem. though you dont need a 950TX. IMO you should consider this beast! (http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=169) if you really want more you can get its 750watt brother, beast for that psu is a understatement. how many psu's in that wattage class, can you point out that have efficiency that good!

i would tell you to get a 650TX or even the 750TX.... if you dont want to spend that much on a psu.

[petteyg359]

The card is getting the same power whether you use an adapter or not. It may have very slightly higher resistance due to the additional break/connection, but nothing that would cause any problems.

[Evilsizer]

The card is getting the same power whether you use an adapter or not. It may have very slightly higher resistance due to the additional break/connection, but nothing that would cause any problems.

how is missing one 12v wire giving it the same power? those little connection will only carry so much current...

[mxthunder]

Well, money isn't really an issue, and I would like to think that I have headroom for tri or quad fire in the future:cool:
So basically, you think that my ocz 700W unit is crapola, causing instability with that much power draw?

[Evilsizer]

it isnt that it is that much, but that psu isnt that stable in terms... say compared to a seasonic based unit like the 650TX/750TX's. as the ripple plus voltage drop on that psu could be causing the problem... those are my thoughts, though i have a modstream that powered(at one time) a E7200@3.8ghz+ 2 9600GSO's(no in sli) on a Abit IP35-pro with 4gigs of ram, on HD, 4-6 fans. i would say it was good enough for that rig but i dont like playing russian rulet with my rigs.

[petteyg359]

how is missing one 12v wire giving it the same power? those little connection will only carry so much current...

The spec on a 6-pin PCI-E plug is ~2 amps per 12V line, for ~75W. The spec on an 8-pin PCI-E plug is ~4 amps per 12V, for ~150W. Both use 3 12V lines, just different numbers of ground (and spec for 6-pin says that third 12V is optional, so it could be just ~50W). How much power those molex adapters can actually deliver all depends on the wire gauge. The connector type doesn't determine electrical properties of the wire. You're not losing power by using a molex adapter except in the resistance caused by the additional plug.