How to power a GPU with this PSU and two 12v rails?

Jdogdemapples

Honorable
Mar 13, 2013
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10,510
My PCU is 550 watt, has two 12v rails - one at 28 amps and the other at 20amps - and is +80 bronze.

Here is a link for all of the information:
http://hecgroupusa.com/home/hec550tb/

Currently I am running a GTX 550 Ti that is overclocked. I have no problems whatsoever with the PSU. The 550 Ti has a TPD of 116 watts and 9.7 amps.

I am considering buying a gtx 770 and, logically, my psu should power it since it provides 40 amps on the 12v rail and plenty of watts. I also dont have much else in my system to use too much power.

GTX 770 - 230 watts and 19.2 amps.

Note that the power rating is based on the card's TPD and that I have no intention to overclock or reach the TPD.

So my questions are:
1. Can the GPU run? If not, why?
2. Do I have to worry about the dual rails? If so, how do I wire the GPU to ensure that it is receiving enough power?
3. This card requires an 8 pin connector. Can I buy a converter to convert 6 pin to 8 pin and does it matter which of the two 6 pins I convert?
4. I also have no idea how to tell which wires are on which rails so I don't know if I would be wiring it correctly of not.

Last note: I am running a i7 2600 CPU w/ 10% OC, GTX 550 Ti, 8 gb RAM, 1TB HD, Blu Ray, 2 case fans, 1 CPU fan, motherboard, and wired keyboard and mouse. I would estimate that it draws about 220 watts at full load.

Thank you for reading.
 

Doggysong

Honorable
Jun 18, 2013
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10,520
Hello Jdogdemapples,

In my opinion, I see no reason as to why you can't run that graphics card! From pictures that I have looked at of both of them, they all match up to have the correct amount of plugins. In order for me to make sure I need the exact link of where you intend to buy it from, since the pictures I am looking at have 2X 6-pin outputs along with 2X Molex outputs.
 
4. I also have no idea how to tell which wires are on which rails so I don't know if I would be wiring it correctly of not.

+12V1 (solid yellow wire): 24-pin Main motherboard cable, SATA connectors, peripheral connectors, and one of the 6-pin PCI-E video card power connectors

+12V2 (yellow with blue stripe wire): (4+4)-pin ATX12V/EPS12V CPU power connector and one of the 6-pin PCI-E video card power connectors

Use one of these 6-pin to 8-pin adapter/converter cables on the PCI-E power connector connected to +12V1:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100016764&IsNodeId=1&srchInDesc=PCI%20Express&page=1&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=2820%7C12-200-420%5E12-200-420-01%23%2C12-201-028%5E12-201-028-TS&percm=12-200-420%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B12-201-028%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24