How to Install a 6 Pin PCIE Cable to Your Power Supply

Most ATX power supplies include six-pin and eight-pin PCI Express power cables.

ATX power supplies originally focused on supplying voltage rails of +3.3 and +5 volts. Some PCI Express cards, however, require multiple +12 volts of current. Following the development of PCI Express technology, ATX PSUs were revised to include additional +12 volt rails to supply enough power to the expansion slots.



Legacy power supplies do not include the six-pin PCIE cable required to power high-end PCI Express devices. Many video cards need a six-pin PCIE cable in order to run. If your power supply does not have a six-pin PCIE power cable, you can use an adapter to convert two four-pin peripheral connectors to a six-pin power cable.

Instructions

1. Shut down the computer. Disconnect the power cable from the rear of the system. Remove any other cables connected to the device panel.

2. Loosen the screws securing the cover to the computer's case. Take caution not to remove the screws securing the power supply to the system.

3. Lift the cover off of the case and touch the chassis to ground yourself. Locate the power supply, then find two available four-pin peripheral connectors coming from the PSU.

4. Remove the PCI Express-to-Molex adapter from its packaging. Attach the two Molex connectors to the power supply's four-pin peripheral cables.

References

• PlayTool: All About the Various PC Power Supply Cables and Connectors

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish