Need some help figuring out what to do with my cards supplemental power supply.

cerbyd · Dec 27, 2013

So i got this graphics card and i need an adapter for its supplemental power supply. I googled around about it and some people say i dont need the sup supply and some say i do because my pci-e slot doesnt power it enough. Either way my monitor doesnt turn on without the sup supply so i think i need it. However the fan DOES run.. dont know if that means anything. I have another computer running the same card (i bought two) and everything works perfectly with the sup supply plugged in.

So this is the adapter that came with the card. The single tip on the right gets plugged into the graphics card (i think its called a 6pin molex im not sure? not the split wires, the single stubby one)

This is the graphics card i bought, yes i know its not elite top of the line, its all i can afford and its an upgrade: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0096JZZ1U

My power supply only supports these type of connections (i think its sata? says serial ata on the wires). Theres no white 3-hole connecters. Only flat black connectors.

So im not really familiar with what those wires are called. My other computer had a 3-hole white connector that i was able to connect 1 of the split heads into thus powering that graphics card but not this pc.

So what would i need?

Would i need something like this?
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-LP4SATAFM6IN-6-Inch-Power-Adapter/dp/B004GSH9KQ/
^ i would plug in the adapter that came with the card, get one of the split white connectors and plug it into the white part of this, then plug the flat black connector into one of my power supplys?

Anyway i appreciate any help i can get.

Brantyn Gerik · Dec 27, 2013

I highly recommend not chaining connectors like that
ill start by explaining what is what. The 6 pin looking thing that will go directly into the gpu is called a 6-pin pci connector, and the adapter you have as the first picture is a 2x molex to single 6 pin adapter.

if your power supply you are using does not have any molex (the either white or black 4 pin that would plug into the top picture molex parts) then i would recommend purchasing a newer power supply

It is never a good idea to plug an adapter into another adapter, but this is purely just a "bad feeling" kinda thing. Power supplies that would be compatable with this gpu will have at least 1 6 pin pci-e power plug in the description. also the picture of the power connectors you have is pretty blurry and i can't tell exactly what it is

Brantyn Gerik · Dec 27, 2013

I highly recommend not chaining connectors like that
ill start by explaining what is what. The 6 pin looking thing that will go directly into the gpu is called a 6-pin pci connector, and the adapter you have as the first picture is a 2x molex to single 6 pin adapter.

if your power supply you are using does not have any molex (the either white or black 4 pin that would plug into the top picture molex parts) then i would recommend purchasing a newer power supply

It is never a good idea to plug an adapter into another adapter, but this is purely just a "bad feeling" kinda thing. Power supplies that would be compatable with this gpu will have at least 1 6 pin pci-e power plug in the description. also the picture of the power connectors you have is pretty blurry and i can't tell exactly what it is

giantbucket · Dec 27, 2013

yeah, while you COULD buy/use that sata-to-molex adaptor and then use the molex-to-pci adaptor, it's not ideal and kinda convoluted and ugly to manage inside the case.

what power supply do you have on this machine? what types of connectors does it have aside form those flat black sata power connectors? if it has a 6pin connector that would fit into your graphics card then use that directly - it's the best solution. your graphics card isn't a power hog, so MOST halfway decent power supplies will power it just fine.

cerbyd · Dec 27, 2013

giantbucket :

I honestly dont care if it looks ugly, my case has plenty of room for it and i never look inside the case anyway so it wont bug me. Im assuming it will work though? My power supply only has flat black connecters or satas i think. It doesnt have any white molexs, i use a sata drive and the power supply only connects to those types if that helps. I dont know what kind of power supply it is, it came with the machine.

Brantyn Gerik · Dec 27, 2013

the 660 you have will run with as low as a 430 watt psu, but generally a pc will only have one power supply to power everything. I personally have only heard of supplementary power supplies in cases of extremely high end computers that are using a rediculous amount of power

cerbyd · Dec 27, 2013

Brantyn Gerik :

What would be the worst that could happen if i did that? The power supply that came with the cpu only has flat black connecters that fit into my sata hard drive if that helps. A small mini one and a longer flat one that fit into my sata hard drive. It doesnt have any molex connecters at all.

Thank you for clearing that up for me, i really appreciate it.

Brantyn Gerik · Dec 27, 2013

the wattage of your power supply will be listed somewhere on the unit, it may even be on a side that you cannot see without taking out the power supply.

Brantyn Gerik · Dec 27, 2013

and the worst that could happen would be you either frying your power supply, or damaging components in your pc.

cerbyd · Dec 27, 2013

Brantyn Gerik :

My psu is 300 watts and the other computer running the same card is 300 watts and its running it fine with the supplementary power plugged in. Im a bit confused, so youre saying i DONT need the supplementary power supply if i have a 430 watt psu? but since mine is 300, it wont run simply through the pci-e slot?

Brantyn Gerik · Dec 27, 2013

No. The power connector on the gpu must be used to power the card. So i guess if you can use another supplementary one to power it, it will work.

But as far as pc building goes, you are dealing with some pretty low end ghetto components and may run into troubles. Yes not everyone has money to spend on better components, but there comes a point where upgrading to the next level of performance will require replacing more than just one part. The 660 is a great card for the price and performs just fine. Just make sure you find a way to get power to the card or it simple will just not work

cerbyd · Dec 27, 2013

Brantyn Gerik :

So if i was gonna go adapter to adapter, would i get the one i linked?

Brantyn Gerik · Dec 27, 2013

cerbyd · Dec 27, 2013

Brantyn Gerik :

thanks for the help!

cerbyd · Dec 28, 2013

Brantyn Gerik :

I noticed the white connector on amazon has 4 holes and the adapter that came with the graphics card (2 split white connecters) has 3 plugs or pins and an empty slot where the 4th would be... does that matter?

Brantyn Gerik · Dec 28, 2013

No, it does not. This is just so they can vary power requirements. More power would require 4 pins on each molex

cerbyd · Dec 28, 2013

Brantyn Gerik :

Thanks, one last question i cant seem to find an answer too, am i supposed to connect both 4-pins? or just one? I find varying "yes connect both of them" and "one connected should be enough". Im also getting a better psu for this, i just wanna make sure i connect it right.

Brantyn Gerik · Dec 28, 2013

You must connect both..anyone telling you otherwise is a serious asshole. basically each pin on the 4-pin molex (though each has 3 as you can clearly see) powers one of the pins on the 6-pin pcie plug. the card will simply not run with only one, and worst case scenario would be card damage (though this one seems unlikely)

Need some help figuring out what to do with my cards supplemental power supply.

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