PC power connectors

Skybird · 06-16-06, 11:37 AM

I just put in a new graphics board, an X850XT. It came with an Y-adapter. I had three free power cables inside my PC. I made one connection, and the fan is working, however, I wonder if other combinations have adnvantages or disadvantages, and what they are for.

The adapter has a head-plug to be connected with the card. It is black, and has two rows with three pins. One pin in the middle is not active, so it is only five pins. Call this plug A.

Two identical sets of cables/connectors separate from the head. Each is three cables, yellow, brown, black, leading to a white connector, four pins wide. Only three pins are active. both sets are identical. Call these plugs B1 and B2.

The PC has these three connectors left, the plugs are all the same, four pins in a row, white:

Plug C has each pin connected with two cables, in this sequence: 2xred, 2xblack, 2xblack,2xyellow.

Plug D has three pins connected with only one cable, red, black, black, and the fourth one with two cables, 2xyellow.

Plug E has all fpour pins with only one cable: red, black, black, yellow.

So far I have connected B1 with E only. I tried additonally to also connect B2 with D, but saw no change. I also did not want to damage the card, and did no more experiment with double-connectors.

Does anyone knows what it's about?

I am also happy that my old 350W power supply happily supports the new card even at maximum work load (Oblivion, max details, 1280 res surely is maximum workload

) However, I would like to know if the system always consumes 350W no matter if at idle, office working, 3D simulation, or if the ammount of power I am charged for by the electricty company depends on the workload of the system?

The ard is nice, btw, but the cooler, although not noisier than the old one, is running at such a critical and high frequency that it seems to be a bit louder. I will replace it sooner or later. Since Palit, the card manufacturer, does not follow the reference design for ATI's x850 card, most coolers do not fit, unfortunately. Only cooler I have confirmation for that it fits this card is the Zalman VX7000.

lesrae · 06-17-06, 02:11 AM

A standard PC molex connector has the red as +5v, the black is 0v (Ground) and the yellow is +12v. The ones with 2 cables to the pin usually just mean they're serially in line with another plug.

The 6 pin connector on the card is a PCI Express Power connector and is connected as follows, from top left to bottom right, Ground, Ground, Ground, +12v, N/C, +12v.

An article I read on this card suggested that all 5 working pins on the card should be connected, I presume the 'Y' cable is configured to provide this from 2 standard molex connectors.

If you trace from the PC Power Supply molex connectors back through to the card, you should effectively be connecting the PC's cabling to the card as described above, with black cables at the molex leading to the top 3 pins on the card and yellow leading to the 2 on the bottom row.

Hope this helps.

Skybird · 06-17-06, 04:11 AM

You mean, I refer to my model above, that I should not leave it to connecting B1 and E, but B2 and D also? I already did that during setup. I heared no difference.

micky1up · 06-17-06, 04:49 PM

i would suggest that you replace your powers supply i had a similar problem with my 7800gs agp 512mb card i upgraded to a 550 power supply and it work fine when i connected to that

Skybird · 06-17-06, 06:50 PM

What problem ...?

I did not intend to describe a problem. I wanted to know what I should do with the loose ends on the adapter, since the card already was operating, since it did not make a difference when I connected the second Y-cable, too.

lesrae · 06-18-06, 01:50 AM

I'm no expert, but from what I read the card will give an error on boot-up if it doesn't have sufficient power connected. I'd say you're OK.

http://forum.visiontek.com/viewtopic...55bf52586bf93a

micky1up · 06-18-06, 06:40 PM

not always some card will fall back to a lower setting and a warning will flash telling you so also some cards fans will work but not eh card another ploblems that appears is cut out the game your playing will cutout and stop when the card cant handle the power needed

06-16-06, 11:37 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,644 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	PC power connectors I just put in a new graphics board, an X850XT. It came with an Y-adapter. I had three free power cables inside my PC. I made one connection, and the fan is working, however, I wonder if other combinations have adnvantages or disadvantages, and what they are for. The adapter has a head-plug to be connected with the card. It is black, and has two rows with three pins. One pin in the middle is not active, so it is only five pins. Call this plug A. Two identical sets of cables/connectors separate from the head. Each is three cables, yellow, brown, black, leading to a white connector, four pins wide. Only three pins are active. both sets are identical. Call these plugs B1 and B2. The PC has these three connectors left, the plugs are all the same, four pins in a row, white: Plug C has each pin connected with two cables, in this sequence: 2xred, 2xblack, 2xblack,2xyellow. Plug D has three pins connected with only one cable, red, black, black, and the fourth one with two cables, 2xyellow. Plug E has all fpour pins with only one cable: red, black, black, yellow. So far I have connected B1 with E only. I tried additonally to also connect B2 with D, but saw no change. I also did not want to damage the card, and did no more experiment with double-connectors. Does anyone knows what it's about? I am also happy that my old 350W power supply happily supports the new card even at maximum work load (Oblivion, max details, 1280 res surely is maximum workload ) However, I would like to know if the system always consumes 350W no matter if at idle, office working, 3D simulation, or if the ammount of power I am charged for by the electricty company depends on the workload of the system? The ard is nice, btw, but the cooler, although not noisier than the old one, is running at such a critical and high frequency that it seems to be a bit louder. I will replace it sooner or later. Since Palit, the card manufacturer, does not follow the reference design for ATI's x850 card, most coolers do not fit, unfortunately. Only cooler I have confirmation for that it fits this card is the Zalman VX7000. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

06-17-06, 02:11 AM	#2
lesrae Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 932 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	A standard PC molex connector has the red as +5v, the black is 0v (Ground) and the yellow is +12v. The ones with 2 cables to the pin usually just mean they're serially in line with another plug. The 6 pin connector on the card is a PCI Express Power connector and is connected as follows, from top left to bottom right, Ground, Ground, Ground, +12v, N/C, +12v. An article I read on this card suggested that all 5 working pins on the card should be connected, I presume the 'Y' cable is configured to provide this from 2 standard molex connectors. If you trace from the PC Power Supply molex connectors back through to the card, you should effectively be connecting the PC's cabling to the card as described above, with black cables at the molex leading to the top 3 pins on the card and yellow leading to the 2 on the bottom row. Hope this helps. __________________ DOLPHIN 38

06-17-06, 04:11 AM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,644 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	You mean, I refer to my model above, that I should not leave it to connecting B1 and E, but B2 and D also? I already did that during setup. I heared no difference. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

06-17-06, 06:50 PM	#5
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,644 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	What problem ...? I did not intend to describe a problem. I wanted to know what I should do with the loose ends on the adapter, since the card already was operating, since it did not make a difference when I connected the second Y-cable, too. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

06-18-06, 01:50 AM	#6
lesrae Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 932 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	I'm no expert, but from what I read the card will give an error on boot-up if it doesn't have sufficient power connected. I'd say you're OK. http://forum.visiontek.com/viewtopic...55bf52586bf93a __________________ DOLPHIN 38

06-17-06, 04:49 PM	#4
micky1up Captain Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: helensburgh Posts: 525 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	i would suggest that you replace your powers supply i had a similar problem with my 7800gs agp 512mb card i upgraded to a 550 power supply and it work fine when i connected to that

06-18-06, 06:40 PM	#7
micky1up Captain Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: helensburgh Posts: 525 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	not always some card will fall back to a lower setting and a warning will flash telling you so also some cards fans will work but not eh card another ploblems that appears is cut out the game your playing will cutout and stop when the card cant handle the power needed