My GPU's box says it can be powered by "4 available HDD power connectors" (vs 2 6-pin PCIe). How does that option work?

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c3bhm

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The GPU box says that the GPU's 2 6-pin PCI-e power inputs can be powered by 2 6-pin PCI-e power connectors or 4 HDD power connectors.
So does that mean 2 HDD power connectors per 6-pin plug?
Does "HDD power connector" mean a 15-pin SATA plug?
I only have 1 6-pin PCI-e power cable coming off my PSU, but my PSU does have an available power cable w/ 2 15-pin SATA plugs sharing one power cable.
Can I get an adapter for 1 of those SATA plugs into a 6-pin plug?
Or do I need an adapter that goes to BOTH of those SATA plugs, that share that one cable, to converge into one 6-pin plug?
Seems like I should only need to plug one of the SATA's into one of the PCIe's on the card, but the GPU box says 4, which would be 2 per plug. Does that mean 2 SATA's off 1 power cable, or 2 SATA's from 2 different power cables?
(My PSU is 460W and the GPU box says it needs a 450W PSU. All of the components in my tower are the same from the HP factory setup.)

Thanks!

["SOLVED" - I bought a splitter-adapter that connected 2 15-pin SATA HDD power cables into 1 6-pin PCIe power plug into the GPU, and it worked.]
 
Solution
Math Geek
i learned from others in forums like this and from reading WAY more tech sites than any human should. throw in my love of asking "what if....?" and tinkering and over time i have learned a ton about most tech related things. i can't ever leave good enough alone!!

i do this for a living now (fixing/building pc's) and while spending a lot of time waiting for installs, tests, scans and so on to finish on client pc's, i spend time here helping others with their issues and sharing what i've learned.

i was a teacher in my past life so i also still have this desire to share what i know with others. hence the sometimes long/detailed responses. and just like teaching, all the time and energy spent is made completely justified when someone...
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c3bhm

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This PC is a factory build by HP. All of the components are still the same - except the original GPU died, so I've replaced it w/ the same GPU (a GeForce GTX 460). But the replacement 460 that I got off eBay happens to have 2 6-pin PCI-e power connectors, whereas the original only had 1. (The new GPU's box says it needs a 450W PSU, and I have a 460W PSU.)
So I'm just trying to figure out how to power that 2nd plug on the GPU. Its box says that HDD plugs are doable, and I do have available HDD plugs. I just don't know how that works, since I'm not a PC-building techy kind of person.
 
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dontlistentome

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It's referring to using two Molex to PCI-EX adapters to create one 6 pin pci-e connector. The reason most people don't recommend doing this is because the power supply wasn't designed to supply power to the videocard like that, and the Molex power cables weren't designed for that load either.

However, it IS an option. It might work since you'd only be doing this with two Molex connectors since you already have one 6 pin pci-e connector available.
 
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c3bhm

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It looks like some GTX460's are actually sold by the manufacturers with a set of 2 adapters that are 2x Molex plugs combining into 1x 6-pin PCIe. So apparently that's an acceptable method.
So then my question is: I don't have molex power connectors coming off my PSU. I have 2 15-pin SATA's. Is that basically the same thing, for these purposes? Can I buy a SATA-to-6pin adapter?
If so, do I need to get an adapter that connects 2 SATA's into a single 6-pin? Or can I just adapt 1 SATA to 1 6pin?
(Thanks for your help!)
 
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Math Geek

Math Geek

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the sata conections actually supply a bit more power over molex connections. so in theory 2x sata is better than 2x molex and an adapter combining 2 into a single 6-pin would give enough power to the gpu. but it does need to be 2x sata and not a single one.

that is in theory. as others have noted, a psu without the needed connections in general should be upgraded to one that has the needed connections.

choice is yours but we tend to stand together here in not recommending you do it. good luck with it if you decide to do it.
 
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c3bhm

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Thanks for the feedback! Last question:
I have 2 SATA power cables coming off my PSU. 1 of the cables has 2 SATA plugs, and the other cable has 3. Currently they are powering my CD drive and my 2 HDD's, w/ one empty/extra plug on each cable.
So if I buy a 2xSATA-to-1x6pinPCIe adapter, should I plug both of that adapter's plugs into just one of my SATA power cables, or should I plug each SATA adapter into each cable...'sharing the load' between the 2 SATA power cables?


 
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c3bhm

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I'm curious as to why the power going in to 1 6-pin PCIe plug should come off 2 SATA's, instead of just one, if it could be coming off 2 or 1 from the same cable. If it's the same cable, w/ multiple plugs on it, why not just use 1 of the plugs instead of splitting between 2? Do the plugs themselves get too hot or overloaded? If the cable itself can handle the juice, it must be the plugs where the weakness is?
(Because the 1 power cable that my PSU offers that has a single 6-pin PCIe plug on it, appears to be the exact same cable-wiring as the cables w/ the multiple SATA plugs on each of them.)
 
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Math Geek

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a single sata connection pulls a lot less power than a 6-pin. i believe it is about 40w max for a sata and 75w for a 6-pin. this is why 2 sata can combine to power a 6-pin connection. the wires themselves are capable of carrying the load but that is not really the issue here.

it's the overall power the psu can output. you can use adapters to create a dozen 8-pin connections but that does not mean the psu can actually give that power. you could cut wires all day and splice in 6/8-pin connections to everything but your psu would never be able to actually provide the power.

the thought of using a sata from each cable rather than 2 from a single cable is on the outside chance that each cable is on its own circuit. this would then split the draw from 2 different circuits and not overload a single one. as i said above, it is likely that it's all the same circuit and it won't make any difference. whichever works out better for you is the best way really. 2 from the same cable probably makes cable management easier and would be the better choice.

you had a reference design 460 before with only a single 6-pin needed. you now have an overclocked one that will use a lot more power. hence the extra 6-pin which equals 75w more power to it!! that's a lot to ask of an oem psu. keep an eye out for issues you did not have before. power delivery problems can show up a lot of ways and not just with it refusing to boot.
 
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dontlistentome

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Yes and no. Yes, it's 'acceptable' in that IF you have a good power supply and IF it supplies enough power via those cables, then yes it'll work. So then it's 'acceptable'. But these companies have no control over the quality of the power supplies their customers use, or how much usable power those power supplies output, so they can't really guarantee it'll work. The fact they include adapters should not be taken as an endorsement of their use.
 
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c3bhm

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What an awesome and thorough answer! Thanks for such quality feedback!
BTW, what motivates you to help poor misguided strangers like me online with THAT level of deluxe feedback? You answered my question/s like you're getting paid for it! :)
 
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Math Geek

Math Geek

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i learned from others in forums like this and from reading WAY more tech sites than any human should. throw in my love of asking "what if....?" and tinkering and over time i have learned a ton about most tech related things. i can't ever leave good enough alone!!

i do this for a living now (fixing/building pc's) and while spending a lot of time waiting for installs, tests, scans and so on to finish on client pc's, i spend time here helping others with their issues and sharing what i've learned.

i was a teacher in my past life so i also still have this desire to share what i know with others. hence the sometimes long/detailed responses. and just like teaching, all the time and energy spent is made completely justified when someone learns something and is truly helped along the way. :D
 
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c3bhm

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Well god bless ya - that's awesome on your part.
Once again, thanks for all the help!
 
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