SATA/Molex to PCI-e adapters?

Nine Iron

Member
I'm considering going down to a gold-rated 350 W PSU (Seasonic SSP-350GT, for the record) - I like the sparse cabling, and my PC specs will tell you that even 350 W is overkill.

However, the PSU doesn't have any PCI-e 6-pin connectors, so I'd have to use either a spare SATA or Molex and an adapter. Given that my gfx card is 65 W TDP (and my next card will be a 750ti, which is pretty much exactly the same), will a single SATA/Molex to PCI-e be enough +12? There are double versions (far more common), but I wouldn't be able to use them.

I could get a 360GP or Golden Green 350, but there'd be spare cables to hide.
 
While I can't argue with the sentiment of extremely tidy cables and I agree not having them at all is the nicest way to keep them under control downgrading to such a PSU is quite an unusual way to go about it.

Assuming the build in your sig is the one we are discussing (put your specs in the OP just as general forum etiquette so the thread still makes sense when your sig changes). It looks very modest and I assume built on a tight budget, it's admirable that you still want it to be super clean but would it not make more sense to just be uber tidy with your cabling and save the money from the PSU and put it towards your GPU upgrade? What case have you got and what constraints are informing the solution you have come up with? It just sounds odd, hiding one PSU cable or such is usually possible with all builds.

You need a PSU that can reliably serve you through more than one build/upgrade as the standard/technology rarely changes keep putting more money into PSU's makes no sense from a performance angle. Generally modular/semi-modular PSU's are the best solution to keep things clean and following that custom cabling. I guess that's all stuff which isn't easily accessible on the budget.

Also if you are the kind of clean freak who doesn't like to see an unused cable (I am I understand) then isn't having a grey PSU kinda nasty after having a CX430.

JR
 
While I can't argue with the sentiment of extremely tidy cables and I agree not having them at all is the nicest way to keep them under control downgrading to such a PSU is quite an unusual way to go about it.

Assuming the build in your sig is the one we are discussing (put your specs in the OP just as general forum etiquette so the thread still makes sense when your sig changes). It looks very modest and I assume built on a tight budget, it's admirable that you still want it to be super clean but would it not make more sense to just be uber tidy with your cabling and save the money from the PSU and put it towards your GPU upgrade? What case have you got and what constraints are informing the solution you have come up with? It just sounds odd, hiding one PSU cable or such is usually possible with all builds.

You need a PSU that can reliably serve you through more than one build/upgrade as the standard/technology rarely changes keep putting more money into PSU's makes no sense from a performance angle. Generally modular/semi-modular PSU's are the best solution to keep things clean and following that custom cabling. I guess that's all stuff which isn't easily accessible on the budget.

Also if you are the kind of clean freak who doesn't like to see an unused cable (I am I understand) then isn't having a grey PSU kinda nasty after having a CX430.

JR

I wanted to go to a gold-rated PSU, and one that would use a higher percentage of its rated "grunt" to get further into the zone-of-max-efficiency. My case is a cheap Coolermaster with almost no room for hiding cables, but it's not windowed, so the greyness of the new PSU wouldn't bother me. It was cheap, and I'll make some back on the Corsair. I considered the Seasonic 360GP and the Super Flower Golden Green 350, but the excess cabling would still be a problem.

I read that a Molex can handle up to 11 A per connector, and at 65 W my GTX650 will need no more than 5.5 A (and the PCI-e slot itself is bound to be contributing to the total). I only use a 4-pin CPU power, so there's really nothing else on the +12 rail.

I should stress that this is not a gaming rig; it's a general rig that sees some gaming:). Thus, a 750 Ti is as much gfx as it will need for the foreseeable. A 750 Ti is too much of a stretch at the moment, so I'll get the PSU now and look for a used gfx card closer to Christmas - I can wait;).
 
You don't need a PCI-e connector. 750ti doesn't use them.

Yes it does. ;) They take 1x 6Pin PCI-e connector.
UL9li4D.jpg
 
My 7770 is powered by an adapter. I haven't experienced any problems with it, so you should be fine as long the card is not a beast.
 
Does anybody know of a 4-pin CPU (female) to 6-pin PCI-e (male) converter? My B75 board only uses one half of the (split) EPS connector, and those wires are of thicker gauge than those of the Molex connector.

Probably overkill, but I'm nothing if not belt-and-braces;).
 
Does anybody know of a 4-pin CPU (female) to 6-pin PCI-e (male) converter? My B75 board only uses one half of the (split) EPS connector, and those wires are of thicker gauge than those of the Molex connector.

Probably overkill, but I'm nothing if not belt-and-braces;).

You want these connectors... I'm confused. :confused:

9e5FWxW.jpg
 
isnt it rather dangerous to attempt this? also while I do realize that OP wants to keep costs down, but is completely cheaping out on the PSU really a good idea? Wouldnt it be better just to save a tad more.

Thus far the molex to PCI-e sounds the most plausible, though not a fan of it.
 
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Well, I've tested my GTX 650 at max chat - Unigine Heaven, all options maxed out for my res - and had no issues whatsoever.

(Still, I'm going to get that marvellous MSI 750 Ti Gaming very soon, so this Molex can be hidden away for good.)
 
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