ASRock z77 Extreme6 SLI/CFX power help.

[grimreaper1014]

Hello,

I have a question about the 4 pin molex connector that you are suppose to connect when using 2 more more video cards on the ASRock z77 Extreme6. I have the Corsair AX850 PSU and the cable for the 4 pin molex connectors has 4 molex I believe but the problem is they are very close together. The best way I have found is to run this cable and the 8 pin power cable up the back of my HAF 912 case and threw the the top hole in the case. However, when I do this the 4 pin molex cable provides a problem for me. I end up with one extra molex connector laying across the board and the rest of them in the cable management cabinet. I am worried I will not be able to get the door on with the 4 pin molex cable running up the back of the case. There is very little room back there on the HAF 912. More importantly I cant use that 4 pin molex cable for anything else like fans ect. Then, I really wouldn't be able to get the case on more than likely. I would just like to know how other people are doing it? I have looked up pictures online but all the pics online I have found I have seen people with my same video cards (dual Sapphire 7970's) not even connecting the 4 pin SLI/CFX connector on the motherboard. In the manual it says you must connect it when using two or more video cards as I have stated above. Is there a more efficent adapter cable I can buy for my AX850 to accomplish this, and to make it look better? If so could someone link me to where I can purchase one? Also, any pics of how other people achieved this would be great.

Thanks,
Rocky

PS. I have uploaded two pics of the problem I am having for a better understanding of what I am talking about.

[profJim]

How about a 72" sleeved molex extension cable: Amazon.com: 72 inch 4 pin Molex Extension Cable Sleeved: Electronics
A web search using: molex extension cable will help you find a more reasonable cable length.

[grimreaper1014]

How about a 72" sleeved molex extension cable: Amazon.com: 72 inch 4 pin Molex Extension Cable Sleeved: Electronics
A web search using: molex extension cable will help you find a more reasonable cable length.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it. I will see what I can find.

In the ASRock motherboard manual for this board it says there are six fan connectors. Two for the CPU labeled CPU_FAN1 and CPU_FAN2, Three chassis labeled CHA_FAN1-3, and one power fan connector labeled PWR_FAN. What is the difference between PWR_FAN and the ones for the chassis fans? What is it suppose to be used for? Like I know the CPU fan connectors are for the CPU fans, and the chassis are for case fans but what is PWR_FAN?

[profJim]

You're welcome.
Let us know what cable length works best with your setup.

[grimreaper1014]

You're welcome.
Let us know what cable length works best with your setup.

Ok I will. I'm going to try to measure how much length I will need to give me a rough estimate. Another thing I am kinda confused about is the crossfire bridge connectors on the Sapphire 7970 Dual-X's. It has two on each card. I was told to just use one bridge from card 1 to card two. The cards have two crossfire connectors on each labeled 1 and 2. However, when I was looking up pictures to get and idea of how people where connecting the SLI/CFX power connector I noticed people using the same cards where using two crossfire bridges. One from connector 1 to connector 1 on card one, and another bridge from connector 2 to connector 2 for card two. Could someone left me know which way is right?

[profJim]

Check the video card's user manual.
I think that you will find that only one bridge is needed with your CrossFireX setup.
The second bridge connector is probably only needed if you are running a three card setup, where the additional connector would connect to the second and the third video cards. An Nvidia three card setup would use the same type of setup using two SLI bridge connectors for a three card setup.

Look for a review from a respected web site for similar cards using two card and three card setups and look for photos that show the bridge setups for each configuration.
As a last resort, you can email Sapphire tech support for the proper bridge connector setup.

I'm guessing that the owners with two cards and using two bridges don't know what they're doing.
Let me know if I'm wrong.

[grimreaper1014]

I sent Sapphire a e-mail on this as I did a lot of searching and could not find out what is for sure the right way. Also the manual was no help. The manual shows two pictures. One with one CFX bridge and one with two on a two card setup. It is saying you can do it either way. I e-mailed them just to be sure about that. I will post back my findings.

I wonder if a store like Radio Shack would have a 4 pin extension cable? I really want to get this build done. I don"t feel like waiting for a cable to be sent. Plus I can"t think of anything else I would need to order to make it worth it lol.

[profJim]

In my original google search, this link for a plain 10" molex cable extension was on the first page:
10-Inch Disk Drive Power Extension Cable : Extension Cables | RadioShack.com

You'll need to check for availability at a store near you, and check for different lengths if needed.
Another option is a pc recycle store if there is one near you.

[grimreaper1014]

Before asking around about the CFX bridges I contacted Sapphire about them. They finally replied the other day. Their response was to use both CFX bridges for best performance. Everyone else said to use one as you mentioned. I hope they mean CFX bridges and now the two power cables on each card. Anyways, I ended up ordering a 12" four pin molex extension cable. It worked perfectly. I also ended up ordering some three pin y cables for my case fans. That way I could run a total of six case fans. I got two 120mm case fans connect to each of the three fan connectors on the ASRock z77 Extreme 6. I figured I would post back with the size of the extentsion cable I used. Maybe it will help someone else in the future.

[profJim]

Glad to hear that it worked out, thanks for the update.