CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201)HardwareHard
A technician is installing a new graphics card into a desktop computer. The graphics card has two 8-pin power connectors. The power supply unit (PSU) only has 6-pin PCIe power cables. What is the MOST appropriate solution for the technician?
- AUse two 6-pin to 8-pin PCIe adapters.
- BUpgrade the power supply unit to one with native 8-pin PCIe connectors.
- CUse two Molex to 8-pin PCIe adapters.
- DConnect only one of the 8-pin connectors, leaving the other disconnected.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Upgrade the power supply unit to one with native 8-pin PCIe connectors.
A graphics card requiring two native 8-pin PCIe connectors indicates a high power draw. Using adapters (especially Molex to PCIe) can be unsafe as the PSU's 6-pin cables or Molex connectors may not be rated to provide the necessary current, potentially leading to system instability, component damage, or fire hazards. The safest and most reliable solution is to upgrade the PSU to one that natively provides the required 8-pin connectors, ensuring adequate and stable power delivery.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While 6-pin to 8-pin adapters exist, using two of them for a high-power card is risky. The 6-pin cable might not be able to deliver the current expected by the 8-pin connector, potentially causing instability or PSU overload.
- C. Molex to PCIe adapters are generally discouraged for high-power devices due to the limited current capacity of Molex connectors, posing a significant fire hazard and risk of instability.
- D. Connecting only one of the required power connectors will prevent the graphics card from operating correctly, leading to system boot issues or immediate shutdowns.
PCIe Power Connectors
Dedicated power connectors (6-pin or 8-pin) from the PSU to provide supplemental power to high-performance graphics cards.
- 6-pin provides up to 75W, 8-pin provides up to 150W.
- Graphics cards also draw up to 75W from the PCIe slot itself.
- Using adapters for high-power cards can be unsafe due to current limitations.
Memory trick: Power Properly Prevents Problems.