PCI-E 8 pin connector

tux1308 · 04-24-2008, 01:27 AM

Hi what is the difference between a PCI-E 8 pin connector and the 6 pin?

I am looking at getting the Cosair HX 520W PSU and want to know if it will be compatable with my motherboard. The only reference to what mother board I have is P4M890-8237.

Please advise.

Thanks.

kilaJules · 04-24-2008, 06:32 AM

The power supply is compatible with your motherboard.

The PCI-E connector plugs into your graphics card, so the type of connector you need depends on whether you have a PCI-E v1 (older) or a PCI-E v2 (newer) card.

The 8 pin connector has 8 pins (4 ground and 4 +12V) and the 6 pin connector has 6 pins (3 ground and 3 +12V).

If you have an older PCI-E v1 card, you can buy a 6 pin adaptor (2x molex -> 1x PCI-E 6 pin). This shouldn't be a problem since the HX520 comes with up to 10 molex connectors.

Note that the 8 pin PCI-E connector is NOT the same as the 8 pin +12V ATX (motherboard) connector. The pinouts (how the wires are connected) are different and plugging the wrong connector into the wrong device will probably result in you investing in a new motherboard/graphics card.

**linderman** · 04-25-2008, 08:48 PM

very well explained KilaJules

tux1308 · 04-29-2008, 03:45 AM

Thanks very much guys, exactly what I needed.

tux1308 · 04-30-2008, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kilaJules

If you have an older PCI-E v1 card, you can buy a 6 pin adaptor (2x molex -> 1x PCI-E 6 pin). This shouldn't be a problem since the HX520 comes with up to 10 molex connectors.

Note that the 8 pin PCI-E connector is NOT the same as the 8 pin +12V ATX (motherboard) connector. The pinouts (how the wires are connected) are different and plugging the wrong connector into the wrong device will probably result in you investing in a new motherboard/graphics card.

Sorry for my ignorance but what is a molex and what are the 10 molex connectors you refer to?

In addition to this, I have a six pin connection which connects directly to my motherboard which I assumed was the PCI-E connection. Directly next to this is another place for a similar 6 pin connection which is empty.
Can i assume that this can not be an ATX connector?

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 04-30-2008, 06:54 AM

He was saying that the psu as about 10(number of) molex connectors

molex are the 4 pin ones that go into cd and most hard drives

**linderman** · 05-01-2008, 06:03 PM

just like prego spaghetti sauce / they are all here

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psucon...onnectors.html

the four pin peripheral connector = molex

04-24-2008, 01:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
tux1308 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 23 OS: xp	PCI-E 8 pin connector Hi what is the difference between a PCI-E 8 pin connector and the 6 pin? I am looking at getting the Cosair HX 520W PSU and want to know if it will be compatable with my motherboard. The only reference to what mother board I have is P4M890-8237. Please advise. Thanks.

04-24-2008, 06:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
kilaJules Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 21 OS: WinXPSP2 Ubuntu 6.10 Ubuntu Server 7.10	Re: PCI-E 8 pin connector The power supply is compatible with your motherboard. The PCI-E connector plugs into your graphics card, so the type of connector you need depends on whether you have a PCI-E v1 (older) or a PCI-E v2 (newer) card. The 8 pin connector has 8 pins (4 ground and 4 +12V) and the 6 pin connector has 6 pins (3 ground and 3 +12V). If you have an older PCI-E v1 card, you can buy a 6 pin adaptor (2x molex -> 1x PCI-E 6 pin). This shouldn't be a problem since the HX520 comes with up to 10 molex connectors. Note that the 8 pin PCI-E connector is NOT the same as the 8 pin +12V ATX (motherboard) connector. The pinouts (how the wires are connected) are different and plugging the wrong connector into the wrong device will probably result in you investing in a new motherboard/graphics card.

04-25-2008, 08:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: PCI-E 8 pin connector very well explained KilaJules __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

04-29-2008, 03:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
tux1308 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 23 OS: xp	Re: PCI-E 8 pin connector Thanks very much guys, exactly what I needed.

04-30-2008, 06:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: PCI-E 8 pin connector He was saying that the psu as about 10(number of) molex connectors molex are the 4 pin ones that go into cd and most hard drives __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

05-01-2008, 06:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: PCI-E 8 pin connector just like prego spaghetti sauce / they are all here http://www.playtool.com/pages/psucon...onnectors.html the four pin peripheral connector = molex __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial