Question about Corsair CX550 lacking sufficient PCIe power connectors.
Question about Corsair CX550 lacking sufficient PCIe power connectors.
I believe the traditional Molex connector setup would be the best choice. The wiki details that Molex pins can handle up to 11A, which translates to 132W at 12V. When using two connectors in parallel, the capacity increases to around 264W. An 8-pin PCIe connector supports about 150W. That’s significantly less than the potential load, giving ample room for safety.
The SATA power connectors have a much lower rating—just 4.5W per pin according to the article—but I think the author intended a total of 4.5A across three pins, not 4.5W. Some people mix up voltage, amps, and watts.
One source mentions roughly 1.5A per pin for SATA, which would give 3 x 1.5 x 12 = 54W for three pins. With two connectors in parallel, that’s 108W, still below the 150W limit of an 8-pin PCIe. That seems too low and risky.
Another note warns against using the SATA adapter as it’s rated at only 108W instead of the required 150W, posing a danger of overheating or fire.
A more robust alternative could be the Molex adapter, which might support up to 262W—well above the PCIe 8-pin limit. However, even this is not perfect and may still pose risks if used improperly.