Search
Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

ASUS HD6970 DirectCU II with XFX Core 550W PSU?

Last response: in Graphics & Displays
Share

Hello,
I decided to build a gaming PC, so I recently bought an ASUS Radeon HD6970 2GB DirectCU II. When I asked for an optimal PSU choice I have been recommended an XFX Core 550W. So, I bought it, only to find out that it only has one 6pin PCI-E plug and one 6+2pin PCI-E. But the Radeon requires two PCI-E 8pin power connectors. There is a red LED glowing on the back of the VGA's PCB... It appears to me I've wasted money on this PSU, because it doesn't even have the needed connectors...

Rig:
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K @ 3.3GHz
VGA: ASUS Radeon HD6970 2GB DirectCU II
PSU: XFX Core 550W
RAM: A-DATA 8GB 1333 Gaming Series CL9
M/B: ASRock Extreme3 Gen3 Z68

Could you please give me some advice?
Is this PSU even enough to handle the rig?
I also saw a 2xMOLEX -> 8pin PCI-E adapter, would it be any good for me? The PSU has plenty of MOLEX connectors.

More about : asus hd6970 directcu xfx core 550w psu

Register or log in to remove

Actually that PSU is a really good quality unit and it has all of the connectors you need your just not looking close enough.

The 6970 actually only requires an 8pin and a 6pin.You should be using the 6+2pin and the 6pin PCI-E connectors to power the 6970.

That PSU is plenty to power your rig but if you plan on Crossfiring anytime soon I would suggest upgrading your PSU.

Thanks for the reply.
I did this now:
I connected the PSU's 6+2pin into the first 8pin socket.
The 6970 came with a 2x 6pin PCI-E -> 8pin PCI-E adapter, so I used it for the second socket, but I connected only one of the 6pin plugs, and it seems to work. But doesn't that limit my OC capabilities?

Yeah the 6970 DirectCUII from ASUS has 2 8 pin connectors. Very sexy.

Just have a look that the PSU can deliver enough current for the GPU, although I'm not so worried. Make sure you have the connections spread out accross the different 12V rails, ie; connect some through PCIe connectors, other leftovers via molex adapter you suggested
Related ressources
Ask the community

Oh i'm sorry.Didn't see that.I just assumed all 6970's only required a 8pin and 6pin.

You shouldn't use the card at all if you don't have the proper power connections.You risk damaing the card.It should have came with a molex adapter.If it didn't you'll need to get one.

As an alternative you can use the 8pin CPU power connection for the GPU and use the 6 pin for the CPU.This will work but don't O.C. the CPU to much.

Well I'm using one PCIe 8pin connector, and the adapter that came with it that has 2 six pin to 8 pin, connected to that I have one of the six pin PCIe connectors, and using an adapter from dual molex to 6 pin. It's working fine here, no problems.

purple stank said:
Oh i'm sorry.Didn't see that.I just assumed all 6970's only required a 8pin and 6pin.

You shouldn't use the card at all if you don't have the proper power connections.You risk damaing the card.It should have came with a molex adapter.If it didn't you'll need to get one.

As an alternative you can use the 8pin CPU power connection for the GPU and use the 6 pin for the CPU.This will work but don't O.C. the CPU to much.

The CPU 8-pin has a different layout to the PCI-E 8pin connector, so it wouldn't match. Right now I bought a Dual Molex -> 8pin PCI-E adapter, going to test it soon. I'll post the results.

GreenDutchAlien said:
"As an alternative you can use the 8pin CPU power connection for the GPU and use the 6 pin for the CPU.This will work but don't O.C. the CPU to much."

I think that can even be dangerous ( if it would fit anyway )


How?

Got the 2xMolex -> 8pin PCI-E adapter, and now the system works flawlessly. :) 
Temperatures are good I guess, GPU: 29 C idle, 50 C at load; CPU: 23 C idle, 40 C at load. No OC yet, of course. Definitely need to try it soon.

In terms of whether you actually need to use both 8pin PCI-e power sockets on the graphics card; read the manual. My MSI HD5870 Lightning has two 8pin connectors, but the manual says only an 8+6 is actually required.

6pin connectors support 75W, 8pin support 150W. This is in addition to what it draws from the slot.

Good to hear it works though. I would suggest you're probably near the limit of what the PSU can handle though.
Register or log in to remove
 
Ask the community
Read discussions in other Graphics & Displays categories
!