120w GPU powered on same SATA cable as a SSD?

mwhahn · Mar 8, 2017

I have a SeaSonic SS-400w modular supply, with a single 8-pin PCI-to-SATA cable powering a single SSD. I want to add in an EVGA GTX 1060 ACX 2.0 (120w) with a 6-pin PCI power connector, but don't have any extra 8-pin-to-6-pin cables. Can I use the existing SATA cable with a SATA-to-PCI Y-splitter to safely power the card?

Update: Tracked down the manual
Cable Pinouts
https://s2.postimg.org/slqhowzah/Modular_CablesPinout.png

Power Specs
https://s2.postimg.org/955s2e46h/PowerSpecs.png

chemmajorp53 · Mar 8, 2017

I wouldn't try that, why do you not have sata power connectors off your power supply? The PCIe power connector should be going straight to the GPU with nothing else.

mwhahn · Mar 8, 2017

chemmajorp53 :

I left most of my computer hardware (including the modular cables) in storage during a move, and they're currently in another city. The only power cable I have access to is the one hooking the SSD up to the PSU.

greens · Mar 8, 2017

You can absolutely do that! The Sata plug has 12v on it and the GPU wnats 12v power, so its just a simple wire pin out change.

A 15 gauge wire can support like.. 25+ amps at 120v so i would say that the 10 amp 12v power going through the PSU wire is absolutely within its safe operating range.

I see absolutely no reason for you not to do this. Other than the adapter being ugly.

mwhahn · Mar 8, 2017

greens :

I should point out that the power adapter that shipped with the card itself goes from 6pin PCI to 2 molex connectors. I figure that an equivalent SATA power connector would probably be fine if molex is on the video card side, but I'm worried about the total wattage of the entire line from the PSU, since there's another device on it.

lakimens · Mar 8, 2017

The 1060 consumes 120W. I can't tell you how much your system does, but the highest CPU's consume 90W(normal i7).
Motherboard is usually 40-70. SSD ~3, HDD ~10, RAM 3-4W.

chemmajorp53 · Mar 8, 2017

I mean the official SATA Power cable maximum current output is only 4.5A at 12V, it's not about the thickness of the wire

greens · Mar 8, 2017

mwhahn :

Negligible. The thinnest of wires can support pretty heavy loads.

Additionally drives only use a couple watts of power, and only use 12v power to spin up.

15 gauge which is tiny can handle loads quadruple what your PSU can provide.

greens · Mar 8, 2017

Than what is it, pray tell?

That max may come about from the small leads on SATA plugs, which isn't really something I considered.

There is no special 4.5A 12v rail on the PSU. All the 12v power comes from the same spot on the PSU.

There is certainly no fused link preventing more than 4.5a on the 12v line. SATA or otherwise.

dontlistentome · Mar 8, 2017

I'd hold off adding the videocard until you get your cables out of storage. If it's going to be a while before you get those cables then I'd consider either ordering cables(if possible) from Seasonic or buying a new power supply. My experience with people who say they have something but it's in the garage, or storage, is that in reality they will never seen those items again.

Search

120w GPU powered on same SATA cable as a SSD?

mwhahn

Prominent

greens

chemmajorp53

Dignified

mwhahn

Prominent

greens

Splendid

mwhahn

Prominent

lakimens

Honorable

chemmajorp53

Dignified

greens

Splendid

greens

Splendid

dontlistentome

Glorious

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page