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low profile PCIe connectors discussion


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Originally posted at http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/8771-2012-15-macbook-pro-gtx970%4010gbps-tb1-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-osx10-10-%5Bgiordy%5D-2.html#post130475

@giordy: Could you do me a favour and tell me how much space there is between the GPUs PCIe Powerconnector and the colliding AKiTiO case? Or how much shorter do the PCIe Powerconnectors have to be, to fit inside the case?!

There are low profile 90 degree PCIe extenders on ebay that might do the job with if you have a bit of clearance.

<A HREF="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/EFUAAOxyNThTdh9D/$_57.JPG"><img width=900 src=http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/EFUAAOxyNThTdh9D/$_57.JPG></A>

@Tech Inferno Fan: Yes, that is sth I was thinking about. Especially with DIY there are even slimmer ways (first and second spoiler): [Guide] How-to Thread für einen abgewinkelten PCIe Stecker

Like the practical examples in the links but they all have a larger section above the stop edge than the ebay linked example I posted above. I'm wondering if the ebay items are as low profile as they can go while providing a 90 degree bend AND do it safely.

Agreed, but I think the linked DIY cables are more about the 90° bend (the visual appearance). Imho you could go way slimmer with a little more effort :)

These cables are awesome. Some are rated to be 5.5mm or 6mm tall on the upper part. If you manage to bend the cables to be 2mm / 2.5mm they might actually fit into the 8mm clearance. Unfortunately the cables are not available in germany. Maybe I can find a cheap chinese reseller.

E.g. the first cable found on eBay is 5.5mm: PCI E 6 Pin 90 Degree Right Power Extension w Low Low Profile Made in USA | eBay

$%28KGrHqJ,!qgFI,5%29lfBRBSKI07QWgg~~60_12.JPG

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  • 4 weeks later...

Relevant post copied from http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/8771-2012-15-macbook-pro-gtx970%4010gbps-tb1-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-osx10-10-%5Bgiordy%5D-2.html#post130546

It’s very simple to make such a low profile cable by yourself as @jacobsson described:

http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7205-us%24189-akitio-thunder2-pcie-box-16gbps-tb2-38.html#post106447

I used very thin bent “iron wire” for pushing locking wings. Even if the upper part is only 4mm tall, the sharp edges in the middle of the outer shell may cut the cable as you can see, so be careful!

<A HREF=http://forum.techinferno.com/attachments/implementation-guides-apple/14666-low_profile.jpg><img width=400 src=http://forum.techinferno.com/attachments/implementation-guides-apple/14666-low_profile.jpg></A>

FYI, here’s the 8-pin to 4-pin molex cable that I made as well, beside low profile 6-pin cable.

<A HREF=http://forum.techinferno.com/attachments/implementation-guides-apple/14667d1429824436-cables.jpg><img width=400 src=http://forum.techinferno.com/attachments/implementation-guides-apple/14667d1429824436-cables.jpg></A>

I thought that a 6-pin with a single 12V yellow from the ATX PSU may not be capable of feeding 75W for the PCIe slot power. Two thick yellows will do the work absolutely.

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I got this cable: NEW 6-Pin to 6-Pin PCI-E 90 Degree right extension w/ low profile4" USA MADE | eBay

With a Galax GTX 970 Gamer OC it perfectly fits and allows the AKiTiO case to be closed. But the fit is so tight, that the single wires from that cable need to be placed next to each other and not on top of each other. Additionally the crossbar in the top of the outer AKiTiO case could damage the wires when closing the case! The crossbare damaged my black wires, so I decided to cut down that crossbar.

Pictures:

post-26280-1449500004604_thumb.jpg

post-26280-14495000046472_thumb.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Due to the less space above the PCIe connector here's my way to avoid cable insulation damage and short circuit to the outer Case:

f7fd8ddfd8c95ac8bb01b697390667cc.jpg

0dddca9cd614845a0fda7483757a8b76.jpg

I've soldered the contacts and the wires (nearly ~AWG14) on a small stripe PCB.

If the plug is plugged in there's no risk of short circuit to the housing nor between the contacts.

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Due to the less space above the PCIe connector here's my way to avoid cable insulation damage and short circuit to the outer Case:

f7fd8ddfd8c95ac8bb01b697390667cc.jpg

0dddca9cd614845a0fda7483757a8b76.jpg

I've soldered the contacts and the wires (nearly ~AWG14) on a small stripe PCB.

If the plug is plugged in there's no risk of short circuit to the housing nor between the contacts.

Pretty ingenious method of doing the plug (Wish I thought of that would have made life easier on my build). The 14GA (15A) should be capable of the 150watt (12.5A) theoretical of the dual 6pin PCIe. However, If you were to be linking to 8Pins 12GA would be the choice.. Very cool dropping to 2 wires.. Personally though I might have gone for Dual 16 GA as it would make it easier to pinup at the power supply as you can run one wire to each of (2) 12V pin outs and (2) Grounds.. The issue with running the single 12 might be an overloading of a single pin at the supply side if you do not direct connect.

One more note, I would cover the backside of that board in epoxy or something to protect still as it does have exposed power contacts.

Brion

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The issue with running the single 12 might be an overloading of a single pin at the supply side if you do not direct connect.

I think he linked all 3x12V and all 3xGround on the supply side to power that one cable. So the only bottleneck might be the wire itself and/or the soldering points. But I know he already did long time tests, so it should be fine :)

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I think he linked all 3x12V and all 3xGround on the supply side to power that one cable. So the only bottleneck might be the wire itself and/or the soldering points. But I know he already did long time tests, so it should be fine :)

OK, yea that should work fine then, With mine on the power connector (8Pin Molex) I ran one PCIe to each of the pairs on the DA2 with the 3rd pair running the Akitio. Amp wise it all works out. The concern was if the thought was running that single 12V and Ground to One pair, but spreading it across the 3 Pairs there should be no issue as it is effectively leaving each pair with a 4.17A load rather than a single pin pair at 12.5A. If he is running the Akitio off of it as well then that Pin load would be higher and probably closer to what mine and pretty much any other DA2 setup would be with a pin load of aprox 6.25A on each pair which is a little higher but within spec.

Alls good on the power front there.. Looks good I am guessing there is a similar board for the power end of the equasion.

Brion

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I'm not afraid that the cable couldn't handle the current.Please take a look to the second picture of this Post

Maybe the pic haven't enough details, all 3 ground pins and all 3 12V pins from the DA02 are soldered to the PCB. The two cables are soldered to the PCB also.

At my 3D printers heated build area i use the same wires, while printing there are more than 20A (can't measure more than 20) of load and it works quite fine

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  • 2 weeks later...

I had one of these cables delivered today: Akitio Egpu 8 Pin to 2 x PCI E 6 Pin Super Low Profile No Latch 1 x Barrel | eBay

post-35979-14495000365848_thumb.jpg

The super low profile PCIe connectors fit well and I can close up the case if I spread the wires flat (cut the zip tie). You do have to be mindful of the ridges in the cover as others have pointed out, but this cable has just enough clearance to not slash up the wires when I close things up.

Not sure about the overall lengths and all. I tried putting the cable inside the case and route the power in through the fan slot in the front (I had to take the fan out to fit the Zotac 970) and run the barrel plug out the back between the GPU bracket and the case, but that was proving too short/tight to also get the Dell DA-2 power lead in through the front fan and connected to the 8 pin.

Will have to think more about how I want to mod up the case. Still need to cut ventilation (ran Unigine Valley Extreme HD benchmark and the eGPU hit almost 85c pretty quickly) and determine how I want the Dell DA-2 to connect.

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  • 1 year later...
On 6/18/2015 at 0:21 PM, martinm0 said:

I had one of these cables delivered today: Akitio Egpu 8 Pin to 2 x PCI E 6 Pin Super Low Profile No Latch 1 x Barrel | eBay

$_57.JPG

The super low profile PCIe connectors fit well and I can close up the case if I spread the wires flat (cut the zip tie). You do have to be mindful of the ridges in the cover as others have pointed out, but this cable has just enough clearance to not slash up the wires when I close things up.

Not sure about the overall lengths and all. I tried putting the cable inside the case and route the power in through the fan slot in the front (I had to take the fan out to fit the Zotac 970) and run the barrel plug out the back between the GPU bracket and the case, but that was proving too short/tight to also get the Dell DA-2 power lead in through the front fan and connected to the 8 pin.

Will have to think more about how I want to mod up the case. Still need to cut ventilation (ran Unigine Valley Extreme HD benchmark and the eGPU hit almost 85c pretty quickly) and determine how I want the Dell DA-2 to connect.

does anyone know where to buy one of these adapters.  Tried on ebay but the seller was out.

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  • 5 months later...

Hi, my name is Kåre. I help users on this site find power solutions for the Akitio Thunderbox and I currently see that you may want to your into the case, if you just had the correct power supply cable that would allow for it to be seated inside the case. KAREONKABLES.COM

 

 

SAM_70.jpg

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