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220W Dell DA-2 AC adapter discussion


jacobsson

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Tech Inferno Fan>> June-16-2015: Dschijn advises there is pre-fabricated Dell DA-2 to barrel+PCIe cable is available on ebay-US for US$16 or US$21!! Perfect to use a 220W Dell DA-2 (enough for a GTX970) use with the AKiTiO Thunder2 eGPU enclosure or others using a DC barrel connector. That being the most plug'n'play solution to use this AC adapter from the three other highly regarded ones posts in order below.-> no longer being sold :(

 

 

Dschijn said:
Seems like someone is selling a ready to go cable on US ebay:

Akitio Egpu 8 Pin to 2 x PCI E 6 Pin Male and 1 x ID 2 5mm OD 5 5mm Barrel | eBay

<A HREF=http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/K6gAAOSwl8NVgDm~/$_57.JPG><img width=400 src=http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/K6gAAOSwl8NVgDm~/$_57.JPG></A>

 

Sachin10 said:
It is not with a ATX PSU but with the DA-220 and some cables that you can find here. But I don't know if the cables need to be modified.

Nope, the DA-2 doesn't use PCIe power interface. Solder is required unless there isn't some DA-2 to PCIe cable converter that I have missed.

 

The red triangles are where you need to cut the DA-2 male to make it compatible with a PCIe 8-pin female extender.

You will also keep the "notch" for polarity guidance (even though this would make only fit on way).

QDb0XHW.png

 

  • The nether right 12V on the DA-2 can not be used this way, will result in shortage.
  • The Sense wire will be shorted against the PCIe 12V line, the sense wire on the PCIe- "female side" should be cut off and isolated from the circuit.

 

 

  • The Remote pin need to be grounded to power on the DA-2 it could probable be left alone since it might be grounded on the PCIe female side.

 

Conclusion:

I can't see how this could be done properly w/o soldering or cutting cables.

If you don't like the idea of soldering you could always do it this way:

stock-photo-plate-of-terminals-used-to-connect-electrical-wires-to-the-mains-99484457.jpg

<hr>

From http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7205-us%24189-akitio-thunder2-pcie-box-16gbps-tb2-67.html#post111759

mzinz said:
I'm now wondering if it would have been a better idea to get the Dell DA/2 power brick, since it's 220W. The only issue I see there is that it uses "Mickey Mouse" connection, so I don't know how I would adapt it to molex... have any idea there?
jacobsson said:
@mzinz

Adding a molex beside the PCIe 6-pin is easy if you're willing to solder some wires?

m082l1p.png?1

mzinz said:
Hell yeah I'll solder! Sounds fun!

Is that a mickey mouse connection pictured above? Did you do this?

jacobsson said:
@mzinz

Yep, that's the Mickey mouse / DA-2 that has been replaced by a regular PCIe 6pin. The blue and ground must be shorted to have the DA-2 running, I suggest some kind of switch so that you don't need to pull the cord to power off.

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Tech Inferno Fan>> This highly accessible solution was posted on 05-15-2015 but promoted above my post, backdating it.

INFO: w4vz' Dell DA-2 PCIe splitter mod

So here is my take on the DA-2. All parts from Ebay (2x PCIe splitters). Only mod I did is the custom 4pin Molex to replace one of the 6pin end.

I put the 4 pin where it is to spread the current more over the cables. Comments welcome, please let me know what you think.

5HB9JZD.jpgytQ2P2k.jpg

FAQ

@w4vz: Nice! Did you had to drill into the 8-Pin to make it fit the DA-2?


No, it fits perfectly

Actually, I could not wait and plugged my akitio (no graphic card yet).
Seems fine but the DA2 is lighting up orange so it is not starting. I had to short the remote with the ground with a pin. Akitio up and running with green LED. I'll try the Graphic card this weekend I hope.

sDHXda9.jpg

I am still curious how the Dell DA-2 fits into the 6-Pin. Isn't there any problem with the square "pins" of the DA-2 going into the 6-Pin with a different layout of the plugs? Especially the ground pin on the right side of the DA-2 (opposite side as the remote pin) is square shaped and is going into the 6-edges 6-Pin of the y-cable.


I had no issue whatsoever to plug it. Just forced it a little bit.

I am about to do a similar thing but using a 24 pin ATX extender with pins to attach by yourself. I would have probably cut the parts of the 24 pin to the left and right I don't need.
Using the free pins I could decide on my own where to put which cable of another plug(pcie, barrel plug). An 8 pin pcie extender with free pins to attach is available too, though. Maybe I'll get both and see what fits 
Your last picture shows that you're only using 6 pins and cut the other 2 which would block sense and remote? At least it looks like that. Why didn't you use a 6 pin pcie extender then?

Still, good job 


What i used is two 6 pin pcie splits. One is modified with a 4pin molex. The sense and remote are still perfectly accessible and i did not cut anything. Not sure what you mean. You see the pin going into the da2 remote to the 6pin ground. 
I think your idea with 8 pin is good too because making custom pins is actually really easy i found but my solution is even easier i think.

Ok, thanks!
By that statement, I would suggest that a 8-Pin PCIe plug should also work, right? With that 8-Pin you could more easily solder a switch into the wires between remote and ground.
But you solution still makes it the best way to connect the DA-2 with very little changes.


I have not tried but I reckon an 8 pin should fit just fine too.

This is great. I cannot wait to get rid of my bulky 500W PSU! Appreciate you experts being so helpful to the newbies. 
@w4vz I'll presume your browser crashes aren't related to power issues...more OSX being stubborn?


Thanks but Im no expert. I learnt by reading the forum posts a lot 
This is my third try on EGPU try and the most stable so far. 
Yes, I suspect OS X being glitchy (have a few little annoying bugs here and there so it is not perfect) Can't use silverlight stuff anymore right now for example; my screens go black and if I quit the browser they come back; never seen that before lol. Windows, from what I see in the forums seem more stable.

How stable is it with a GTX970?


@goalque: A user made it stable DA-2 with GTX 970 by lowering the power and clock speed:

EDIT: I have just finished a 3 hour gaming session in Far Cry 3 without a single issue RJgAJZdlsYzbjOrAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC 
i kept the clocks at 1177mhz max but upped my power limit to 90%, which produced power peaks of 98% and GPU loads of 98% (interestingly GPU-Z logs show the card has never exceeded 98% load under any test, benchmark or configuration). Temps remained constant at 75*C and fan speed never exceeded 50%. 
Interestingly the Voltages averaged 1.1620, and the card spent very little time at the 1.2v max. 
The DA-2 is now quite warm to the touch but has not tripped into protection mode, making me think it is overcurrent or overvoltage protection that is the issue, not thermal.


http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/8304-gtx970-dell-da-2-test-results.html

Here is a german website, modding a GTX 970 to use less than 130W with just 9% performance drop and much better cooling. Also the load on the PCIe slot is reduced be lower than 75W (eliminating the spikes):
(To make it work in OSX we should think about modding the GPUs BIOS)
https://translate.google.de/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.de%2Fhtpc-gtx970-modding-cool-quiet%2Ctestberichte-241708.html&edit-text=

Just read the article, and seems like downclocking the card will hit you a sweetspot to avoid errors due to power consumption ?


Exactly, you can bring the card to Nvidia original power consumption values of the stock GTX 970. But there is no need to do that, if you are concerned about the DA-2. Might help for cooling/noise/power consumption.
 


Original background research prior to my implementation above . . .

Well… you must take a look at the connectors on the DA-2. It can be connected on two positions to the 24-Pin ATX cable. If you cut the all the wires of the 24-Pin you can reconnect (soldering) them to the 8-Pins of the 24-Pin you chose. Maybe it is even easier to directly solder 6-Pin PCIe cables directly to that cut wires.


Please forgive my electrical ignorance. I read the guide here but still can't figure it out :/ 

The idea is to make 2 x 12v 6pin molex adaptors and one 12v molex to barrel from the 3 12v pairs pairs coming out of the DA2 ?

each 6pins molex takes 6 connectors (3+ and 3-) so I could in theory connect everything like my (bad) diagram below ?

Ewxl6T1.jpg

Well... each part (barrel, 2x6-pin) has to deliver 75W. To spread the load even you can connect everything to all 3x12V and 3xground. 1x12V for the barrel might be insufficient.

@w4vz: As long as you keep matching 12V (yellow) and ground (black) between PCIe and DA-2 it should be fine. Just don't mix 12V from DA-2 with ground of the PCIe plug. Get the wiring diagram of the DA-2 and the 6-Pin PCIe plug.
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23-May-2015: recommend w4vz PCIe splitter mod one post up as the more readily accessible and lower cost solution for most users.

INFO: Using a BPlus SWEX to create a Dell DA-2 to 6P+8P PCIe + DC barrel adapter

SAFETY WARNING!! This guide is presented in a technical manner so only those with the correct electrical/electronics engineering (EE) experience would be able to do it safely. We are dealing with high power here which can harm both the user and their equipment. Proceed with caution. If uncertain, pay someone with the right knowledge to do the mods in steps 1-5 below. Your safety is worth it.

For sometime now have been contemplating what is the easiest way to create a ON/OFF switchable adapter that can accept a Dell DA-2 input and give two outputs (1) a DC barrel or molex lead to supply 75W PCIe slot power (2) a 6P+8P PCIe power outputs. Such an adapter would be very handy to power an AKiTiO Thunder2 enclosure with. Turns out I had all the bits in my repository all along to create such an adapter. 

A SWEX has keyed pins to allow connection of an input Dell DA-2 and output to 4 pins of a 6P PCIe lead and a 6P PCIe lead as seen below. 

So how to modify the SWEX to pass the input power to the output leads? 

Parts required

- a BPlus SWEX on/off switch

- a EXP GDC 6P cable as supplied with the EXP GDC eGPU adapter. Can source a standalone cable linked at http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/6643-exp-gdc-beast-ares-v7-v6-discussion.html .

- a spare 6P PCIe power cable with no end, if intending to add a barrel connector like the non-solder variant as I did from http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/8317-%5Bguide%5D-making-molex-barrel-adapter.html#post113069 . . I sourced mine from an old ATX PSU wiring harness. Or a molex-to-6P PCIe power lead as can be found at your local computer shop + optional molex female-female gender converter

- cable: 16AWG or 1.5mm electrical cable (15AWG) (AUD$0.40 per meter)

- soldering: soldering iron, solder, flux paste

- insulation: electrical tape 

At a glance wiring diagram

Shown below is front view of how the cabling works. The rearview with backplate removed shows the superimposed wiring diagram required to modify the SWEX.

K6YMTEj.jpg

VNTXc8W.png

Details - if the picture above isn't clear

  1. Remove the bottom plate off the SWEX revealing solderable pads. You'll be working on the rear side so keep in mind the locations are mirrored to the reference image shown above.

    Disconnect JP1 (SW1) from switching through GND to to the gray pad with the red dot. Use a box cutter to cut that track just above the solder pad it connects to. That way some of the remaining track can be scratched to reveal the copper and a blob of bridging solder applied o restore the original SWEX functionality if wanting to reverse this mod.
     
  2. Solder the switch in to power the DA with the ON positon. Connect the REMOTE (blue) pin on the Dell DA-2 to the JP1 location. Use the JP1 left pad when looking at the SWEX front on. This can be a thin wire since it's just a signal and not a not power wire. Best if grouped together with the other GND leads with no 12V leads running near or across it.
     
  3. Solder the GND (gray) pins. Connect 3x 16AWG leads between the 2x 4P and 6P gray pins on the right. Run 2 of the cables across two pins.
    Solder the 12V (yellow) pins. Connect 3x 16AWG leads between the 2x 4P and 6P yellow pins on the right. Run 2 of the cables across two pins.
     
  4. INSULATE your soldering work electrical tape. Pay particular attention to the 12V leads relative to the GND leads. Ensure you highly insulate the 12V lines near the edge of the SWEX too since once reassembled, a gap exists which could snag onto those live 12V lines causing electrocution! 
     
  5. Remount rhe SWEX backing plate to provide insulation of the circuit board while in use. The supplied bolts are just long enough to accomodate a single additional layer of 16AWG cable and still grip onto the matching screw.
     
  6. On the 6P-to-molex lead, cut the two leftmost pins on the 6P lead making a 4P-molex cable that fits (tightly!) alongside the 6P-to-6P+8P position on the SWEX. You could skip this step if using say the supplied 60W AC adapter with an AKiTiO to provide slot power and then just use the Dell DA-2 to provide PCIe power. 

    Only issue if converting the 6P to a 4P-molex is you'll have a male instead of female molex power out plug. Consider using a gender converter as linked above, changing the end to be female, soldering together a female molex-to-barrel DC input lead instead of a male one into say your AKiTiO Thunder2 or just add a straight female molex onto the DC input lead tracks. In my case, I attached a DC barrel end to my 4P cable to connect directly to the AKiTiO Thunder2 DC jack.


A completed example

Shown in the gallery below. It works very well as described in power stability question below. De-clutters my desk of the ATX PSU + cabling used previously. The modified SWEX tucks nicely in the bottom right corner, hiding the only blemish in my modified Thunder2 - the hack used to open right side of the case (link has the correct way to do it!).



Optional: Removing 11mm from the SWEX breadth to get a flush right-angle fit

Not content with running the SWEX diagonally for a flush fit, I proceeded to remove 9mm from the SWEX left edge and 2mm from the right. Taking so much off the left edge meant the original screw hole went with it. I then used the original left mount hole for the screw. To do that mean plus pushing the rear cover over towards the right side by 9mm to give spots for screwholes. Done because the left mount hole's rear cover had a recess (what for?), making it unfeasible to directly drill. Two new screw holes were drilled and the original screws added. I used box cutters to score the SWEX, then pliers to hold and snap along the scored edge. 

With some application of black electrical tape along the edges and a bit of tailored grey notebook battery packaging sponge, the complete unit now looks like a factory part. Looks great on my desk: 



What is the power stability in using your GTX970 with a 220W Dell DA-2?

While a Dell DA-2 is rated at 220W, a Taobao vendor listed them as being capable of delivering 240W. That sounds about right. I've been running a MSI GTX970 Gaming with BIOS set power target of 200W + 10% (110% in MSI Afterburner). It's been rock stable, even overclocked +186Mhz core, +495Mhz ram, +6mV core offset. Consider the AKiTiO Thunder2 chassis requires 10W additional power on top of that so I'm near on that 240W mark. Though if I increase my core offset to 10mV the Dell DA-2 will power off under consistent high load.

3dmark benchmarks results in my sig obtained while powered this way. 

Can I undo this process to restore the original SWEX functionality of switching on a ATX PSU?

Absolutely. Just desolder the wires you added in steps 3-5 above and patch JP1/SW1 track that was cut in step 2. 

Can I use a 8P-to-8P+8P lead as provided by a PE4C 2.x instead?

Yes, however since it's 8P wide it intrudes on 4 pins used for the molex output as can be seen below. It too is keyed to fit on the rightmost 8 pins of the SWEX however the 2 leftmost pins there are GND. So you'll need to wire GND to the yellow pad below the gray pin with red dot and then somehow tap off the yellow/black PCIe pins to run to a molex. This is not recommended as you'd be bring GND near other 12V pins on the same horizontal axis, increasing the chance of an accidental short circuit.


Instead, I'd suggest just cut 2 pins leftmost pin of the 8P connector to make it a 6P connector so can use it in the same way as the 6P cable above.

2w7CmSZ.jpg
Left: PE4C 8P lead
Right: EXP GDC 6P lead

Can BPlus make us a variation of SWEX with above wiring for Dell DA-2 use?

Was contemplated, but ceased due to w4vz PCIe splitter solution one post up being cheaper and more readily available. Correspondance with BPlus about this is in the spoiler:

 
From: Roger @Bplus

Date: Mon, May 18, 2015 at 6:35 PM
Subject: RE: Dell DA-2 to molex+PCIe adapter with on/off switch
To: Nando 


Hi Nando,

Thank you for your information.

Our internal discuss, we will stop create Dell DA-2 SWEX.

We think this cable is better than our SWEX for cost issue.


If you have any question ,please feel free contact me.

Thank you very much.

Best Regards,

Roger

----
From: Nando 
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2015 12:11 PM
To: Roger @Bplus

Subject: Re: Dell DA-2 to molex+PCIe adapter with on/off switch


Hi Roger,

w4vz posts using 2x PCIe splitters to split off Dell DA-2 power

w4vz has worked out an easier way of getting a Dell DA-2 to PCIe power out using low cost and readily available PCIe splitters at http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/9426-220w-dell-da-2-ac-adapter-discussion.html#post122731

You can see how cheap these are, with the user just needing two to get w4vz solution going: PCI-E 6pin splitter | eBay)

Does this alter the plan to create a Dell DA-2 SWEX?

Will this change your plans for creating a DA-2 SWEX? Our users are cost conscious so any BPlus solution/bundle would need to be a low cost item including shipping to be an alternative to w4vz' PCIe splitter solution. Maybe adding low profile PCIe connectors as an option?http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/9951-low-profile-pcie-connectors-discussion.html#post130496

Regards,

Nando
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@jacobsson: I managed to get a 20$ Dell OPTIPLEX GX620 from eBay with the 220W PSU. I will disassemble it and only reuse the PSU and the matching plug, which is soldered to the motherboard.

Does the DA-2 come in different revisions? Maybe it changed over the years? Are there a lot of "fake" DA-2 PSUs?

---

I am gathering all the parts to make a small eGPU setup with a GTX 970 in a closed AKiTiO case.

To achieve that, I will use a DA-2 and still try to figure out, how to get the power into the case when it is closed. The whole back side of the AKiTiO is used by the PCIe slots and the AKiTiO PCB.

For a small connection I bought the DA-2 with an old Dell Optiplex that it powered. So can reuse the original plug for the DA-2 that is soldered to the Mainboard.

My questions are:

1. Can you brainstorm where the best position is to place the DA-2 plug on the AKiTiO case? My current favorite position would be on the back side in the lower area next to the case screw or exactly at the case screw position. There is some clearance between the case and the lower part of the GPUs IO shield. Cut opening that part would mean to weaken the black structure holding the GPU and maybe to sacrifice the lower case screw (the long silver one).

2. Almost the same question but regarding a power switch… best position? At the back? At the front it should "destroy" the "clean" look. Top/bottom/sides don't seem right as well.

3. Do you think it is fine to connect all 3x12V ports to one thick string and connect all cables to that string? By that the load you be evenly distributed, right? Same with the 3xground ports.

4. To implement a switch it has to be connected to the (blue) remote port and one of the ground ports?!

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  • 3 weeks later...
Another noob question...

How would I rewire this if I'm currently using a molex to barrel adapter? Is it simple to remove the wires from my molex adapter and plug them into one of the PCIe splitters?

I'm going to do the exact same as @w4vz now(it seems to be a really straightforward, no hassle way) and with 2 pcie splitters you've got 3 pcie plugs in the end. I'll cut one off as there is no need for 3 pcie plugs anyway and use it's cables to put into my screw terminal block. As my splitter is 6 pin to 2x 6(+2) pin I will also have got a free ground cable with plug from the +2 part(they're only 2 ground) which I can then plug into the remote part of the Dell DA-2.

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I have an existing molex to barrel assembly I purchased off ebay. What would be the easiest way for me to use this with a DA-2 and (2) 1x 6-pin to 2x 6pin pcie splitters? Could I modify one of the splitters to include a female molex connector on one end? Then just plug my existing molex to barrel into that?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14890[/ATTACH]

Get yourself one of these -> 1 Female Molex Connector Housing w 4 Pins | eBay

Then cut off the third 6 pcie pin you don't need, twist the each 3 12v(yellow) and 3 ground(black) cables together(so you make 1 end out of 3) and put those twisted cables into one of the pins of the linked molex set each(1 pin yellow, 1 pin black, matching your molex-barrel plug).

Another way would be to buy this -> Screw Terminal Coaxial Power Connectors 2 5mm x 5 5mm 28J212 Lot of 3 | eBay and just put in the cut off and twisted 12v and ground cables. If you don't mind the little cost, maybe it's easier. I've already got such a thing here though and don't need to buy it. They're really cheap here in Germany, too. :)

So I could avoid making a molex connector altogether if I just added this screw terminal to one of the legs of the pcie splitter? I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly. Thank you for the help! :-)

Exactly. You would use the cables directly und put them into the screw terminal.

If you want to wait and see if everything is fine this way, I've ordered my stuff and expect it to be delivered in the next 2-3 days.

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They are two 6pin pcie splitters where one has been modified on one of the splits to have a 4pin molex instead to power the akitio.

Do not solder yellow with black. Always black with black and yellow with yellow or you will create a short circuit.

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They are two 6pin pcie splitters where one has been modified on one of the splits to have a 4pin molex instead to power the akitio.

Do not solder yellow with black. Always black with black and yellow with yellow or you will create a short circuit.

Yes I know - Not a complete moron :) But IF I'm allowed to combine the 3 yellow and by that extend the length of the splitter ( and the same for the black ).

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Yes you can combine the 3 black to one and the 3 yellow into on cable each. Just be careful! The cables can be too thin to carry all the load. I combined e.g. all 3 yellow wires into 3 wires with one solder point for all together. From that 3 wires I made 2x6-Pin & Molex & barrel plug. Same for the black wires.

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Yes you can combine the 3 black to one and the 3 yellow into on cable each. Just be careful! The cables can be too thin to carry all the load. I combined e.g. all 3 yellow wires into 3 wires with one solder point for all together. From that 3 wires I made 2x6-Pin & Molex & barrel plug. Same for the black wires.

Figured i would use some 2.5mm cable rated to 12v 30 A.

I want to do this to extend, but also to get an outlet for dc barrel, and that way getting an even distribution of the load to the dc barrel in the 6pin molex, (instead of ect. the main load being on pin 1 and 4). If you know what i mean :P

yeah.. I made a shitty drawing of my idea.

post-35805-14495000057349_thumb.png

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I have ordered the parts for my own eGPU (finally) and have now read this thread and am starting to change my mind.

Currently I have a CX430M PSU on its way which I would use with a custom molex to power the AKiTiO and a 970 (1 8 pin) but it seems like this DA-2 is a better option.

If I understand correctly, all I need to do is cancel the PSU order and instead get the DA-2 and two PCIe splitters?

Would this work with the rest of my setup? It sounds like others here are ending up with a 6 pin connector for the card where mine needs an 8 pin, if that makes any difference.

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I have ordered the parts for my own eGPU (finally) and have now read this thread and am starting to change my mind.

Currently I have a CX430M PSU on its way which I would use with a custom molex to power the AKiTiO and a 970 (1 8 pin) but it seems like this DA-2 is a better option.

If I understand correctly, all I need to do is cancel the PSU order and instead get the DA-2 and two PCIe splitters?

Would this work with the rest of my setup? It sounds like others here are ending up with a 6 pin connector for the card where mine needs an 8 pin, if that makes any difference.

You can use the DA-2, just make sure that you have some soldering skills, as you will have to add a DC barrel to the main-power source of the akitio of the DA-2. You cannot you the original power adapter ( or it would not be wise to do so, due to ground loop ), so get all the power from the same source.

Do as I'm planning to do, solder a DC barrel on the 12v rail.

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So what actual cables do I need to get?

How do I connect the DA-2 to both the molex-to-barrel connector and an 8pin card? I'm quite new to all this.

@lordromanov01: If your GTX 970 really just has 1x8-Pin, you would need

- DA-2

- this plug: 5.5X2.5mm DC Power plug Terminals Connector Adapter Power -female | eBay

- a 6-Pin y-cable (so get 2x6-Pin power from the DA-2)

- a 6-Pin to 8-Pin adapter (to connect between one of the 6-Pin y-cables and the GPU)

The yet unused 6-Pin adapter from the y-cable has to be cut down and all black cables connected to one port of the barrel plug (ground side of course) and all yellow cables as well to the other port (12V side).

And you might need a cable or paperclip to start the DA-2

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Reading that and thinking about it... It might be that it is there to sense the voltage of an internal battery allowing the power supply to turn off when that voltage matches a certain reading to keep from overcharging the battery.

Finally figured out what the sense port on the DA2 would be used for.. I'm 90% sure from reading that this port is unneeded in our application as if it works the same as the Sense position in the PCIe cables all it does is tell the original use computer that the correct power supply has been plugged into it (protection from using a non-complient power supply).

Brion

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@w4vz: Thanks again for showing up with your method, I've received my cables today and everything works fine. So I got 2 x 6 pin PCIe splitter(1x6 pin to 2x6(+2) pin), one plugged into the DA-2, one end of it is cut of to use the cables for the barrel plug(3 cables each for 12v and GND) and the other end extends and splits again with the 2nd cable. Paperclip to activate the DA-2 remote works fine, too.

This is really easy, neat and nearly plug'n'play. The DA-2 plug needs a bit of force to fit into the 6 pin female part but it's really not much and there's no need for any modifications of the 6 pin female part.

Guess you spared myself some time, using a 24 ATX with cables to attach by yourself would have been more trouble.

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@Morv: just make sure to connect the 12V and ground to the correct ports of the barrel plug.

Additionally a picture of your version would be appreciated! :)

I've already got a molex to barrel plug in use for 2-3 months. I had taped the riser power "pins" like it was mentioned by Tech Inferno Fan, so the slot was only powered by the barrel plug. I wanted to avoid stability problems beforehand.

But at this time I was checking several times at several places that the cables were at the right place, although there are only 2 possibilities. I just didn't want to blow up my precious stuff :D

I'll post pictures later on. It's a bit messy right now and I haven't got time.

I'll also upgrade to a GTX 970 as my Gigabyte GTX 960 doesn't fit the outer shell of the Akitio case and I miss a bit of power so I won't buy another GTX 960. 2 free games, which I wanted buy anyway, are also nice.

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This is really easy, neat and nearly plug'n'play. The DA-2 plug needs a bit of force to fit into the 6 pin female part but it's really not much and there's no need for any modifications of the 6 pin female part.

Guess you spared myself some time, using a 24 ATX with cables to attach by yourself would have been more trouble.

Received my stuff yesterday (minus the screw terminal). I was surprised how easy the PCIE fit the DA2. You're right....just a little extra force was needed to push in.

Also surprised how large the power adapter is. It reminds me of the size of the original Xbox 360 power brick ;-). Still much more convenient than a traditional ATX PSU.

@Morv: just make sure to connect the 12V and ground to the correct ports of the barrel plug.

Additionally a picture of your version would be appreciated! :)

Just to dummy proof my inexperienced brain....it's 3 yellow wires to the positive terminal and 3 black to negative, correct?

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Received my stuff yesterday (minus the screw terminal). I was surprised how easy the PCIE fit the DA2. You're right....just a little extra force was needed to push in.

Also surprised how large the power adapter is. It reminds me of the size of the original Xbox 360 power brick ;-). Still much more convenient than a traditional ATX PSU.

Just to dummy proof my inexperienced brain....it's 3 yellow wires to the positive terminal and 3 black to negative, correct?

Yes, correct (yellow = 12V = positiv = +).

It's amazing what "movement" has started with the DA-2 and now the 6-Pin PCIe plug :D

Doesn't the old Xbox have weaker PSUs? But true, the DA-2 is enormous. But also easy to store on the floor under the desk.

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Ha! i just got inspired to ditch my cooler master case and go for the most compact, streamlined option. There's really no need for an external case with a modded Akitio enclosure....and the fact that we can easily use a power adapter is exciting.

Curious to know how warm this thing gets....We're not creating a fire hazard here are we? ;-)

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With the EVGA GTX 970 FTW you are forced to open the AKiTiO, so no problem regading heat. But it's more tricky if you want to close the AKiTiO like in my latest build: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/9821-2014-15-macbook-pro-iris-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-%5Bdschijn-2%5D.html#post131966

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With the EVGA GTX 970 FTW you are forced to open the AKiTiO, so no problem regading heat. But it's more tricky if you want to close the AKiTiO like in my latest build: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/9821-2014-15-macbook-pro-iris-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-%5Bdschijn-2%5D.html#post131966

Oops, I should've clarified I was referring to the DA2. I assume it contains a sensor that would shut off the power if voltage became too high, so i doubt it's a real concern. Anyone hook their DA2 set up through a voltage meter? Curious to see if it exceeds 220W.

P.S. your closed case looks awesome!

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@w4vz: Thanks again for showing up with your method, I've received my cables today and everything works fine. So I got 2 x 6 pin PCIe splitter(1x6 pin to 2x6(+2) pin), one plugged into the DA-2, one end of it is cut of to use the cables for the barrel plug(3 cables each for 12v and GND) and the other end extends and splits again with the 2nd cable. Paperclip to activate the DA-2 remote works fine, too.

This is really easy, neat and nearly plug'n'play. The DA-2 plug needs a bit of force to fit into the 6 pin female part but it's really not much and there's no need for any modifications of the 6 pin female part.

Guess you spared myself some time, using a 24 ATX with cables to attach by yourself would have been more trouble.

Hey @Morv, you're welcome. Im glad i could help a bit :)

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