Are 6-pin to 8-pin adapters safe for GPUs?

[dexgo10]

Hi, I wonder if I could use a 6-pin to 8-pin adapter and if it safe. I found differents arguments about this subject. For example, the XFX rx570 incluides this adapter, but some people say that the adapters are dangerous. I want to buy a MSI rx570 armor but my psu just have 6 pin.

Thanks!

 

[DR4G00N]

Both 6-pin and 6+2-pin PCIE power connectors have the same number of power and ground wires so there's no issue with using an adapter.

 

[dexgo10]

Both 6-pin and 6+2-pin PCIE power connectors have the same number of power and ground wires so there's no issue with using an adapter.

It's great to hear that because I read that there a fire risk, and I was afraid of using it

 

[Ruru]

No problems, the +2 pins are just grounds IIRC. Hell, I've ran a HD 3870 X2 with an old 300W PSU back in the day with a lot of adapters.

 

[dexgo10]

No problems, the +2 pins are just grounds IIRC. Hell, I've ran a HD 3870 X2 with an old 300W PSU back in the day with a lot of adapters.

In my case I want to use it with a Seasonic 400w (ss400es). Do you think it´s fine? My cpu is i5 3550 (77w)

 

[Aquinus]

Hell, I've ran a HD 3870 X2 with an old 300W PSU back in the day with a lot of adapters.

You are a very brave soul.

In my case I want to use it with a Seasonic 400w (ss400es). Do you think it´s fine? My cpu is i5 3550 (77w)

I would be reluctant with a 400w PSU. It *might* work but you have absolutely no headroom for additional draw or overclocking if you do. I'd be worried about it if I were you.

 

[Ruru]

In my case I want to use it with a Seasonic 400w (ss400es). Do you think it´s fine? My cpu is i5 3550 (77w)

There shouldn't be problems with RX 570.

I had an E6400 @ 3.4GHz back then with that HD 3870 X2, I can't even understand how that old HEC 300W ran it without problems. I later upgraded the GPU to a HD 4890 @ 1040/1145, also ran flawlessly.

I don't recommend doing anything similar though.

E: I also had a Pentium G3258 @ 4.7 @ R9 290 with a XFX 430W PSU, no problems also with that.

 

[Aquinus]

There shouldn't be problems with RX 570.

I had an E6400 @ 3.4GHz back then with that HD 3870 X2, I can't even understand how that old HEC 300W ran it without problems. I later upgraded the GPU to a HD 4890 @ 1040/1145, also ran flawlessly.

I don't recommend doing anything similar though.

Just because it didn't explode for you, doesn't mean it won't explode for someone else. The bottom line is that it might not be safe to do that, which is my point. We're not talking about a maxed out quality PSU here, we're talking about maxing out a cheap PSU. The results could be catastrophic. Why tempt fate?

Both 6-pin and 6+2-pin PCIE power connectors have the same number of power and ground wires so there's no issue with using an adapter.

8-pin has the same number of power pins, but it has two more ground pins than a 6-pin PCIe power connector. The adapter works because the extra two pins can be grounded, but your current carrying capacity is reduced in comparison. If a connection is loose, you could start a fire under heavy load. The point of the extra two ground pins is to distribute the current against ground.

 

[dexgo10]

There shouldn't be problems with RX 570.

I had an E6400 @ 3.4GHz back then with that HD 3870 X2, I can't even understand how that old HEC 300W ran it without problems. I later upgraded the GPU to a HD 4890 @ 1040/1145, also ran flawlessly.

I don't recommend doing anything similar though.

E: I also had a Pentium G3258 @ 4.7 @ R9 290 with a XFX 430W PSU, no problems also with that.

Yours psu´s rocks! Well now I think that I can try with the adapter. What´s the worst scenario, if something goes wrong?

 

[Aquinus]

What´s the worst scenario, if something goes wrong?

Worst case scenario is that you could destroy hardware or start a fire. It's your risk.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Both 6-pin and 6+2-pin PCIE power connectors have the same number of power and ground wires so there's no issue with using an adapter.

No problems, the +2 pins are just grounds IIRC. Hell, I've ran a HD 3870 X2 with an old 300W PSU back in the day with a lot of adapters.

Well, no, you're both wrong. 6 pin PCIE power cables are rated for 75 watts. 8 pin PCIE power cables are rated for 150 watts!

but my psu just have 6 pin

Sometimes, we should listen to what our hardware is trying to tell us.

Seasonic 400w (ss400es)

It looks like it has 17 amps (204 watts) available for the GPU. Rather disappointed that they didn't use a 6+2 cable for this PSU. The PSU should supply you with the power that you need to run your system, (at least what you've told us of it) (hint, hint, fill out your system specs) but Seasonic may have limited your ability to do so with the connectors provided. W1zzard tested a RX-570 4GB and it maxed out at 180 watts. If you subtract the 75 watts that the card can pull through the PCI-e slot, that still leaves 105 watts to come through that 75 watt rated 6 pin. I have no idea if Seasonic has over current protection on those connectors.

Possible solution: Get a 4 Pin Molex to 6 Pin PCI-Express PCIE and a dual 6 pin to 8 pin PCIE so you can pull some from the molex connector as well.

 

[dexgo10]

You are a very brave soul.

I would be reluctant with a 400w PSU. It *might* work but you have absolutely no headroom for additional draw or overclocking if you do. I'd be worried about it if I were you.

I´m a rookie in oc, so I won´t do that. I calculate the load wattage of my pc with the rx570 and it gave me between 332w and 345w. It´s safe?

 

[DR4G00N]

Well, no, you're both wrong. 6 pin PCIE power cables are rated for 75 watts. 8 pin PCIE power cables are rated for 150 watts!

Electrically they are the same, Three +12V & Two Ground + One Sense wire. The extra pins on the 6+2 are a second sense and a third ground. 6pin = one sense shorted to ground, 8pin = both sense pins shorted to ground.

Basically 6 & 8pins are one and the same and can of course carry the same amount of power.

 

[dexgo10]

Well, no, you're both wrong. 6 pin PCIE power cables are rated for 75 watts. 8 pin PCIE power cables are rated for 150 watts!

Sometimes, we should listen to what our hardware is trying to tell us.

It looks like it has 17 amps (204 watts) available for the GPU. Rather disappointed that they didn't use a 6+2 cable for this PSU. The PSU should supply you with the power that you need to run your system, (at least what you've told us of it) (hint, hint, fill out your system specs) but Seasonic may have limited your ability to do so with the connectors provided. W1zzard tested a RX-570 4GB and it maxed out at 180 watts. If you subtract the 75 watts that the card can pull through the PCI-e slot, that still leaves 105 watts to come through that 75 watt rated 6 pin. I have no idea if Seasonic has over current protection on those connectors.

Possible solution: Get a 4 Pin Molex to 6 Pin PCI-Express PCIE and a dual 6 pin to 8 pin PCIE so you can pull some from the molex connector as well.

Oh, I think it could be work only with the 6 pin to 8 pin, but I don´t know nothing about psu´s.

This is my full system specs: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/

I found that the power consumption is 330w and I worry about it, these are real watts?

What do you think?

 

[AlienIsGOD]

i would just save some $ and get a proper wattage psu so u dont have to worry about this again in the future. 550-650w will do fine and last a cpl of builds if you upgrade down the road.

 

[dexgo10]

i would just save some $ and get a proper wattage psu so u dont have to worry about this again in the future. 550-650w will do fine and last a cpl of builds if you upgrade down the road.

That is the best option, I know, but the prices in my country are too high. For example, only the 6 pin to 8 pin adapter cost me 14 dollars.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

That is the best option, I know, but the prices in my country are too high. For example, only the 6 pin to 8 pin adapter cost me 14 dollars.

Save imo, Canadian prices are crap for hardware too. Better a long term investment rather than a quick fix

 

[dexgo10]

Save imo, Canadian prices are crap for hardware too. Better a long term investment rather than a quick fix

You got a point there, but I really don´t know what is the real risk with the adapter

 

[MrGRiMv25]

I use an adapter myself but my 12v rail can supply enough to allow me to use the 6+2 pin adapter - been using it for 8 months with no issue but it is a quality OEM supply. Some supplies, particularly cheap ones won't be safe supplying 150w through that single rail with an adapter on it.

A good example of a supply that can use the adapter is the Seasonic one posted above.

 

[Jetster]

The issue is "some" adapters are crap. But if it can be avoided, do not use one. Its just one more connection that can degrade over time. I have used them with 90 degree in a tight case but I try to avoid them.

Now you see power supply companies that split two to make 8 out of six. In that case the manufacture has done it, not some sweat shop in china

 

[lexluthermiester]

Hi, I wonder if I could use a 6-pin to 8-pin adapter and if it safe. I found differents arguments about this subject. For example, the XFX rx570 incluides this adapter, but some people say that the adapters are dangerous. I want to buy a MSI rx570 armor but my psu just have 6 pin.

Thanks!

There's a lot of info to go around, but the short answer, as many have said already: You'll be fine as long as your power supply has the wattage your system+GPU needs.

In my case I want to use it with a Seasonic 400w (ss400es). Do you think it´s fine? My cpu is i5 3550 (77w)

With this PSU and the CPU/GPU combo you've stated you'll be ok. I would recommend a 550w or 600w to give yourself room to upgrade, if you have not already bought the PSU.

 

[dexgo10]

I use an adapter myself but my 12v rail can supply enough to allow me to use the 6+2 pin adapter - been using it for 8 months with no issue but it is a quality OEM supply. Some supplies, particularly cheap ones won't be safe supplying 150w through that single rail with an adapter on it.

A good example of a supply that can use the adapter is the Seasonic one posted above.

I trust in the brand, but the only thing risky is that my psu has seven years

The issue is "some" adapters are crap. But if it can be avoided, do not use one. Its just one more connection that can degrade over time. I have used them with 90 degree in a tight case but I try to avoid them.

Now you see power supply companies that split two to make 8 out of six. In that case the manufacture has done it, not some sweat shop in china

yes, that´s a big issue, because a crappy cable could ruin some component of the pc

There's a lot of info to go around, but the short answer, as many have said already: You'll be fine as long as your power supply has the wattage your system+GPU needs.


With this PSU and the CPU/GPU combo you've stated you'll be ok. I would recommend a 550w or 600w to give yourself room to upgrade, if you have not already bought the PSU.

I don´t buy the psu yet, I was looking for information today and I read that the efficiency of the psu could change over time. Mine has seven years

 

[thebluebumblebee]

I think you should start with a PSU upgrade first.

 

[Grog6]

The wires are not the issue in that cable; the contact rating is.

Those contacts are good for7A; 3 contact to 4 contact is significant; 21 to 28A.

 

[delshay]

I use dual 6 pin input to single 8 pin output for years now, no issues. I did find one adaptor that was not fully wired.