8 pin PCI-Express Power Connector For Your Video Card
Last night, I found a spanking deal on a 9800GX2 (paid $150) on Craigslist. After bringing the card home and taking another look at it, I realized that the card has two power inputs, which need both a 6 pin and an 8 pin PCI-E power connector. Nobody locally carries the adapter and I don't want to wait 3-5 days for it to come in the mail. *&^%!!! I want to game, tonight!
I tried using 2x 6 pin PCI-E power connections, but the video card didn't like it and refused to output anything. So I got to thinking, what the heck is an 8 pin PCI-E connector and what is so special about it? After a bit of Googling, I found my answer:
The only difference between a 6 pin and an 8 pin PCI-E connector is that the 8 pin connector has two additional grounds. So, theoretically, you could take a 6 pin PCI-E connector, add two more grounds to the right side and be good to go.
Luckily for us, this is not only theoretically possible, but very feasible as well. Creating the connector is pretty easy and straightfoward for anyone the least bit handy.
First, take an old ATX connector (or similar) and cut off two pins from the end using a Dremel.
Cut the wires of the two pin connector down and strip them:
Now, instead of wiring these extra two pins directly to my power supply, I decided to wire it up to a spare adapter I had to avoid canabalizing my Power PC & Cooling 510.
You could wire directly to your power supply, but you would end up making permament modifications (explained later). I ended up using a 2x 4 pin molex to 6 pin PCI-E adapter I had laying around.
Strip each of the black wires (ground) somewhere in the middle.
Solder the wires from the two pin connector to the exposed wires you just stripped. NOTE: I said solder, but you can get away with electrical tape; however, that's the lazy way, which is more apt to fail.
Then, just cover the solder points with electrical tape and tape the two pin connector to the 6 pin PCI-E connector and VOILA! Your new 8 pin PCI-E adapter is finished! It would be a good idea to test fit your new plug before attaching the two connectors together.
Lastly, everyone wants to know, "Does it work?"
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