Splitting 2x PCI-e into 4?

[thedreamer]

I saw someone mention they do this, but is it really safe?

For example you have a 2x pci-e power supply but the miner requires 4.
Each pci-e cable has 2 6-pin connectors on it. Let's say you use 800watts total, so about 175 per pci-e connector, but 350 per cable.

Isn't this a bit much for the cables to handle?

[notlist3d]

I saw someone mention they do this, but is it really safe?

For example you have a 2x pci-e power supply but the miner requires 4.
Each pci-e cable has 2 6-pin connectors on it. Let's say you use 800watts total, so about 175 per pci-e connector, but 350 per cable.

Isn't this a bit much for the cables to handle?

I hate to split PCIe cords.  If you have to do it make sure to buy decent gauge wire.  If you get cheap ones it's asking for trouble.

[thedreamer]

I saw someone mention they do this, but is it really safe?

For example you have a 2x pci-e power supply but the miner requires 4.
Each pci-e cable has 2 6-pin connectors on it. Let's say you use 800watts total, so about 175 per pci-e connector, but 350 per cable.

Isn't this a bit much for the cables to handle?

I hate to split PCIe cords.  If you have to do it make sure to buy decent gauge wire.  If you get cheap ones it's asking for trouble.

It's whatever is shipped with a thermaltake power supply. I hate ribbon cables BTW.

[notlist3d]

I saw someone mention they do this, but is it really safe?

For example you have a 2x pci-e power supply but the miner requires 4.
Each pci-e cable has 2 6-pin connectors on it. Let's say you use 800watts total, so about 175 per pci-e connector, but 350 per cable.

Isn't this a bit much for the cables to handle?

I hate to split PCIe cords.  If you have to do it make sure to buy decent gauge wire.  If you get cheap ones it's asking for trouble.

It's whatever is shipped with a thermaltake power supply. I hate ribbon cables BTW.

I'm going to guess it's to small of guage wire. Most of the ones from manufactures like that are crap.

There is someone on the forum that makes high gauge ones.  Hopefully someone can remember who it is and post it for you. 

I personally will never split a pcie again.  I did it once on a raidmax splitter that came with it and the electricity melted the crap out of it.

[thedreamer]

I'm only running 500 watts through the 4 connectors / 2 pc-e cables, so it's only 250w per cable max, but I'll keep an eye on it.

Someone on here mentioned they run SP20's using the stock pci-e 2x conenctor cables, which even downclocked might be too much.

Just experimenting with stuff here. LOL

[Amph]

what you say doesn't make sense, because it's the cable the important part not the 6 pin, the 6 pin is just a plastic thing, so if there are 2x6 pin then you can go up to 350 with both, because their cables won't support more than that

would have been another story if we were talking about 2+6 connectors

[alh]

This has some real risk associated with it. Not only do you need to consider the wire gauge, you also need to consider the connector at the power supply end if it's a modular power supply. The PCIe spec doesn't require that all six wires on the connector carry power correctly. Most higher end PSU's will use 16AWG wire, and connect all the pins correctly in the 6-pin socket, but it's not a requirement. If you want to pull 250+ Watts (i.e. more than 20 Amps at 12V), all the connectors and wires need to be well plugged in and of high quality, or things can get hot and actually start to melt.

[philipma1957]

I saw someone mention they do this, but is it really safe?

For example you have a 2x pci-e power supply but the miner requires 4.
Each pci-e cable has 2 6-pin connectors on it. Let's say you use 800watts total, so about 175 per pci-e connector, but 350 per cable.

Isn't this a bit much for the cables to handle?

I hate to split PCIe cords.  If you have to do it make sure to buy decent gauge wire.  If you get cheap ones it's asking for trouble.

It's whatever is shipped with a thermaltake power supply. I hate ribbon cables BTW.

 some threads on melted t-take pcie cables are here.
So far the best pcie cables have been the one that come with the  evga 1300 and the evga 1600

A  pair of double headed cables can run  the sp20 at 750 watts at the kwatt meter just keep an eye on them.

I prefer to run 2 sp20's on the evga 1300  one at 1100gh using the 2 double headed pcie cables.  then the other at 1250gh using 4 single pcie cables.

I no longer use any psu's but evga's.

 I do have 1 good quality 1200 platinum  server from this thread.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=985163.0

I do have 2 seasonics but would not buy them again as they can melt the stock cables

[thedreamer]

I have a 750w Corsair running 500watts at the wall through the 2x pci-e cables supplied with the 4 connectors in an antminer c1. This thing needs 4 pci-e connectors for power minimum.

I run the sp20s in evga supernovas under clocked and dell z750s with no issues though.

I have to get some more evga psupplies. Lol.

[philipma1957]

I have a 750w Corsair running 500watts at the wall through the 2x pci-e cables supplied with the 4 connectors in an antminer c1. This thing needs 4 pci-e connectors for power minimum.

I run the sp20s in evga supernovas under clocked and dell z750s with no issues though.

I have to get some more evga psupplies. Lol.

pm me

[klondike_bar]

I saw someone mention they do this, but is it really safe?

For example you have a 2x pci-e power supply but the miner requires 4.
Each pci-e cable has 2 6-pin connectors on it. Let's say you use 800watts total, so about 175 per pci-e connector, but 350 per cable.

Isn't this a bit much for the cables to handle?

I hate to split PCIe cords.  If you have to do it make sure to buy decent gauge wire.  If you get cheap ones it's asking for trouble.

+1. I sell 18awg PCIe y-splitters that are exactly what OP is looking for, and capable of 150W+ per 'branch'

the problem is the total draw. Chances are your PSU using 16awg PCIe cables that can hanlde only 250-280W at the most. the gold/platinum-rated stuff might handle 300W.
350w/cable will get really hot and risk melting if not actively cooled

[thedreamer]

I decided to stop messing with the chances of frying the PS or cables, so I stopped using more than one connection per pci-e cable. Better safe than sorry.

It did work at lower watts though. At 550 watts it started getting the stock corsair PCI-E cables warm to the touch, bu they were hitting 275W per cable.

Thanks for everybody's input though! This is how we learn (the noobies like me). The search function of SMF forums are totally useless (I know, I have the same forum software on my Firearms site) so that's why I keep asking stupid questions. 

[notlist3d]

I decided to stop messing with the chances of frying the PS or cables, so I stopped using more than one connection per pci-e cable. Better safe than sorry.

It did work at lower watts though. At 550 watts it started getting the stock corsair PCI-E cables warm to the touch, bu they were hitting 275W per cable.

Thanks for everybody's input though! This is how we learn (the noobies like me). The search function of SMF forums are totally useless (I know, I have the same forum software on my Firearms site) so that's why I keep asking stupid questions. 

Glad you descided not to.  One of the lest fun things is to find a fried cable or smell something burning in a miner area.

Can I ask what your firearm site is? I also am a bitcoiner who enjoys firearms.

[Unacceptable]

I saw someone mention they do this, but is it really safe?

For example you have a 2x pci-e power supply but the miner requires 4.
Each pci-e cable has 2 6-pin connectors on it. Let's say you use 800watts total, so about 175 per pci-e connector, but 350 per cable.

Isn't this a bit much for the cables to handle?

I hate to split PCIe cords.  If you have to do it make sure to buy decent gauge wire.  If you get cheap ones it's asking for trouble.

It's whatever is shipped with a thermaltake power supply. I hate ribbon cables BTW.

I'm going to guess it's to small of guage wire. Most of the ones from manufactures like that are crap.

There is someone on the forum that makes high gauge ones.  Hopefully someone can remember who it is and post it for you. 

I personally will never split a pcie again.  I did it once on a raidmax splitter that came with it and the electricity melted the crap out of it.

Are you reffering to Cablez 

[notlist3d]

I saw someone mention they do this, but is it really safe?

For example you have a 2x pci-e power supply but the miner requires 4.
Each pci-e cable has 2 6-pin connectors on it. Let's say you use 800watts total, so about 175 per pci-e connector, but 350 per cable.

Isn't this a bit much for the cables to handle?

I hate to split PCIe cords.  If you have to do it make sure to buy decent gauge wire.  If you get cheap ones it's asking for trouble.

It's whatever is shipped with a thermaltake power supply. I hate ribbon cables BTW.

I'm going to guess it's to small of guage wire. Most of the ones from manufactures like that are crap.

There is someone on the forum that makes high gauge ones.  Hopefully someone can remember who it is and post it for you. 

I personally will never split a pcie again.  I did it once on a raidmax splitter that came with it and the electricity melted the crap out of it.

Are you reffering to Cablez 

Yes he was one of them

Other was klondike_bar : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=563461

But I still suggest not splitting PCI-e but if you do go for good quality.

[thedreamer]

I decided to stop messing with the chances of frying the PS or cables, so I stopped using more than one connection per pci-e cable. Better safe than sorry.

It did work at lower watts though. At 550 watts it started getting the stock corsair PCI-E cables warm to the touch, bu they were hitting 275W per cable.

Thanks for everybody's input though! This is how we learn (the noobies like me). The search function of SMF forums are totally useless (I know, I have the same forum software on my Firearms site) so that's why I keep asking stupid questions.  

Glad you descided not to.  One of the lest fun things is to find a fried cable or smell something burning in a miner area.

Can I ask what your firearm site is? I also am a bitcoiner who enjoys firearms.

It's in my signature (I think), but it's www.ctguntalk.com, or www.ctgt.us. very Pro 2A, Firearms, Politics, News, etc.. Site.

Nowhere near the membership this site has, but still almost 1%.  

[klondike_bar]

I decided to stop messing with the chances of frying the PS or cables, so I stopped using more than one connection per pci-e cable. Better safe than sorry.

It did work at lower watts though. At 550 watts it started getting the stock corsair PCI-E cables warm to the touch, bu they were hitting 275W per cable.

Thanks for everybody's input though! This is how we learn (the noobies like me). The search function of SMF forums are totally useless (I know, I have the same forum software on my Firearms site) so that's why I keep asking stupid questions. 

275w sounds about right. keep an eye on it, since a warm cable increases its resistance, thus getting even warmer (and losing efficiency due to losses in the wire).

[thedreamer]

Yeah that's why I stopped. I want to keep each cable at below 200w even on the other miners unless I need to push it.
The only ones I trust to push enough is the evga 1300 G2's and the cables. Anyone know what gauge they are?

[notlist3d]

Yeah that's why I stopped. I want to keep each cable at below 200w even on the other miners unless I need to push it.
The only ones I trust to push enough is the evga 1300 G2's and the cables. Anyone know what gauge they are?

I don't know guage but never had problem with them.  I had it on a SP20 running a little OC with no issue.  Now it is underclocked and psu is a little bit overkill but still works great.

I also love my RM1000's run many of them never had a issue.