can I hook up a 6pin and an 8pin pci connector to my gtx 980?

TheScarecrow97 · Dec 4, 2014

My power supply is 550 watts and it comes with 1 8pin pci connector cord and 2 6pin pci connector cords. The 980 has 2 8pin slots to connect. Would it be ok for me to plug the 8pin connector into one and the 6pin connector into the other? Or should I just use 1 8pin or 2 6pins as opposed to mixing and matching.

oczdude8 · Dec 4, 2014

if it has 2 8pins, it NEEDS 2 8pins to run. You cant just arbitrarily decide to plug a 6pin into one of the 8pin slots.

Did you gpu come with a 2x6pin to 8pin adapter?

Also, I hope you have a quality psu

Dark Lord of Tech · Dec 4, 2014

Sounds like you might need a PSU upgrade , that has the proper PCIE connections.

TheScarecrow97 · Dec 4, 2014

oczdude8 :

It's an xfx 550w 80+ bronze certified. And no it didn't can I just order one of those adapters and use it?

Dark Lord of Tech · Dec 4, 2014

USE a molex adapter that came with the card.

JackNaylorPE · Dec 4, 2014

The PSU is likely equipped with this cabling because it is physically capable of powering two 6 pin (2 x 75 watts) or one 6pin (75 watts) and one 8 pin (150 watts) fir a total of 150 - 225 watts. Two 8 pins is capable of pulling 300 watts.

The 980 at stock settings is capable of pulling 200 watts
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_geforce_gtx_980_gaming_oc_review,7.html

So you wouldn't be risking too much if my guess is correct and the PSU is in fact capable of supplying 225 watts over those cables. OTOH, you have an extremely overclockable card and I would not overclock that card with that PSU and cable setup. I'd therefore recommend a PSU upgrade and while ya at it, might consider planning for a possible 2nd card in SLI down the road as cost difference would be minimal.

TheScarecrow97 · Dec 4, 2014

JackNaylorPE :

Gah, I was wrong. The 8pin connector doesn't fit into the gpu port, so I'm assuming it wasn't really a pci cable like I thought. Sorry, I'm kind of new to building computers : / So really I just have 2 6pin connectors. Judging from what you just told me, that's only 150 watts and wouldn't be enough to power my graphics card, right? ):

Dark Lord of Tech · Dec 4, 2014

That was the 8 pin CPU power you tried .

TheScarecrow97 · Dec 4, 2014

Ok so clearly I need a new power supply. Can anyone suggest me one with 2 8pin pci connectors?

Dark Lord of Tech · Dec 4, 2014

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $54.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-04 14:07 EST-0500

ko888 · Dec 4, 2014

TheScarecrow97 :

Your PSU comes with one 6-pin and one (6+2)-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors. That's 225 Watts.

You just bought a GeForce GTX 980 model that didn't adhere to NVIDIA's reference design that only requires two 75 Watt 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.

JackNaylorPE · Dec 4, 2014

TheScarecrow97 :

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_980_g1_gaming_review,7.html

That cable was the 8 pin EPS connector. Your card is a step above the reference design so let's look at a compatable unit.

Here is Guru3D's power supply recommendation:

GeForce GTX 970 or 980 - On your average system the card requires you to have a 500 Watt power supply unit.
GeForce GTX 970 or 980 in 2-way SLI - On your average system the cards require you to have an 800 Watt power supply unit as minimum.

If you are going to overclock your GPU or processor, then we do recommend you purchase something with some more stamina.

- I'd go with a 620 / 650 watter for one card as anything less of quality offers insignificant price savings
- I'd go with a 850 watter for two card even though that 800 watts is already conservative considering they used a 3960x in their test.

$65 - Seasonic S12 - 620 watts
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096

$80 - EVGA G1-650 watts (10 year warranty)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438026

$90 - EVGA B2 - 850 watts
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438030

$93 - XFX Core Edition 850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011

The Seasonic like the XFX at 620 / 650 watt is a very good medium duty PSU whereas the EVCGA series is top end but carries a $15-$25 price premium. Personally, I'd lean to the EVGA B2 though not the highest top end like the G / P series EVGA units it's excellent quality, quite a bargain and will let you add a 2nd card down the road.

Dark Lord of Tech · Dec 4, 2014

The 650 G1 isn't a good power supply.

The B2 , G2 , P2 . T2 are the good ones made by Super Flower.

The G1 is a multi rail from FSP.

JackNaylorPE · Dec 4, 2014

As you know I have oft recommended against the G1 / B1 designs in favor of the B2 / G2 / P2.

However, I remember the G1 previously having a shorter warranty. The new G1 reportedly has a revised design, 80+ Gold rating and *now* comes with a 10 year warranty. Haven't been able to dig up the details as not seen any reviews. The other B1's (500 / 600) have 3 year warrantees and the 750 B1 has a 5 year warranty. B2 and G1 are generally 5 years however the G2, P2 and this 650/750 G1 are 10 years.

Dark Lord of Tech · Dec 4, 2014

I won't touch anything but the 2's , Seasonic is going to be making supplies for them to be released soon.

hockster · Mar 25, 2015

Would running two 6-pin connectors from a Corsair HX 1000W PSU be enough to power the card? The EVGA GTX 980 has two 6-pin slots. I would think it would be?

JackNaylorPE · Mar 25, 2015

You want to match what the card has.... accept no substitutes !

1000 watts is enough for three 980s....with the right connectors

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2311121/power-supply-requirements-nvidia-gpus.html#14243229

The EVGA PSUs come with a whacky cable 8 pin x 2 6pins and a 2pin. Good idea i guess.... 8 pin carries 150 watts and 6 pins are 75 each .... but that leaves the 2 hangin ..... as does using the 6+2..... messy

can I hook up a 6pin and an 8pin pci connector to my gtx 980?

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