My main concern will be if still has enough room to install the PowerLink. Those aftermarket Vega card can be quite large. May be not enough space (between the card and the PCIe fan) to accommodate the PowerLink.
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MP 1,1-5,1 EVGA PowerLink with AMD GPUs
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My main concern will be if still has enough room to install the PowerLink. Those aftermarket Vega card can be quite large. May be not enough space (between the card and the PCIe fan) to accommodate the PowerLink.
The PowerLink could be connected with two short power extension cables to the card. Doesn't have to be connected directly to the card.
The power connectors on the preferred Vega 56 Red Dragon (6 + 8 pin, efficiency bios mode) are anyway in the middle and would not fit with the PowerLink.:
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Nice card, according to the spec, it’s a 2.1 slot card. Can it fit inside slot1, but still allow slot 2 to be used by another PCIe card?
Yes, I guess it would allow the use of another PCIe card in slot 2. Not sure if it's a 2 slot or 2.1 slot card, I guess only 2 slot, here some amazon reviews, quote: https://www.amazon.com/PowerColor-5...show_all_top?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews
Quote: Perfect for 2012 Mac Pro
Doesn't block slot 2. 6 pin + 8 pin is easy to power. I used dual mini 6 pin to 8 pin and dual SATA to 6 pin. Stress tested in Furmark and it is stable. Very happy.
Now I wonder would this card work with the normal PSU when using the secondary 'efficiency' bios and the PowerLink ?
Average use under load is around 226 Watt:
Quote: Perfect for 2012 Mac Pro
Doesn't block slot 2. 6 pin + 8 pin is easy to power. I used dual mini 6 pin to 8 pin and dual SATA to 6 pin. Stress tested in Furmark and it is stable. Very happy.
Now I wonder would this card work with the normal PSU when using the secondary 'efficiency' bios and the PowerLink ?
Average use under load is around 226 Watt:
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I use the Powerlink with my AMD Vega Frontier edition and run completely from internal power with no issues. And my machine is completely maxed out.
Took a while to figure out how to run power internally while maintaining my 4 HDDs internally, but now that I have it running, it's been great.
I wanted to use the Powerlink as a power balancing buffer from the machine to the GPU.
Took a while to figure out how to run power internally while maintaining my 4 HDDs internally, but now that I have it running, it's been great.
I wanted to use the Powerlink as a power balancing buffer from the machine to the GPU.
Straider
If your GPU power inputs are the same as in post #27 .. then . . obviously you will have to use extended cables from an EVGA PowerLink to the Red Dragon's 6 & 8 pin power input sockets ,, then I suppose that the setup in post#1 in this thread will work .. but don't quote me
. . I'm only using a Sapphire Dual X HD 7970 which is working quite well.
h9826790 would be the one to get a definitive answer,
If your GPU power inputs are the same as in post #27 .. then . . obviously you will have to use extended cables from an EVGA PowerLink to the Red Dragon's 6 & 8 pin power input sockets ,, then I suppose that the setup in post#1 in this thread will work .. but don't quote me
. . I'm only using a Sapphire Dual X HD 7970 which is working quite well.h9826790 would be the one to get a definitive answer,
I discovered that my new MSI Armor RX 580 8gb's 8 pin socket's cable locking clip now faces the RX 580's PCB which is a departure from previous AMD cards - the locking clip is UNDER the PCB .. which means that the EVGa PowerLink just will not fit unless it's POLARITY is reversed .. but there is a way to use the PowerLink with a similar 580 ( & I presume RX 570 also ).
1. Get a FEMALE 8 pin to MALE 8 pin cable.
2. Mount the PowerLink on top of the front PCI bay fan & secure it tightly with a soft eraser,
3. Insert the FEMALE end of the cable to the PowerLink
4. TWIST the MALE 8 pin cable 180° so that the locking clip faces DOWNWARDS.
Voila !
=================================================================
NOTE : I fully realise that my 4,1>5,1's internals look messy, I have two hi-CFM USB fans installed to cool the Northbridge +. one SATA powered hi-CFM fan to cool CPU A's RAM and also a hiCFM fan to my Samsung 960 EVO & 970 EVOs= much better operating temps.
Everything works & my CPU Tray area temps are dramatically reduced.
Additionally I use a spare cMP side cover which I have modified to run the fan cables down and through a 5mm wide slot I cut in the side cover to the rear of the cMP and have run a "drive activity LED" from my Samsung 960 EVO boot drive = this LED is very informative.
1. Get a FEMALE 8 pin to MALE 8 pin cable.
2. Mount the PowerLink on top of the front PCI bay fan & secure it tightly with a soft eraser,
3. Insert the FEMALE end of the cable to the PowerLink
4. TWIST the MALE 8 pin cable 180° so that the locking clip faces DOWNWARDS.
Voila !
=================================================================
NOTE : I fully realise that my 4,1>5,1's internals look messy, I have two hi-CFM USB fans installed to cool the Northbridge +. one SATA powered hi-CFM fan to cool CPU A's RAM and also a hiCFM fan to my Samsung 960 EVO & 970 EVOs= much better operating temps.
Everything works & my CPU Tray area temps are dramatically reduced.
Additionally I use a spare cMP side cover which I have modified to run the fan cables down and through a 5mm wide slot I cut in the side cover to the rear of the cMP and have run a "drive activity LED" from my Samsung 960 EVO boot drive = this LED is very informative.
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It's cramped in there, but it's possible. Attached an example that it is doable even with a VEGA VII and Pixlas compared to my old pre-Mojave Bootcamp 2017/18 setup.
Call me crazy, but Pixlas cable uses only 7 leads out of the 8 available because 2 go to the same cable. I was worried about uneven power distribution and therefore causing a shortening of PSU live-span. So I did go with Powerlink again to put amps on that otherwise unconnected 8th power lead. It was a gut feeling.
AlexMaximus
Better safe than sorry. Good gut feeling choice.
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The PowerLink is pretty versatile except for RX 580s where the ( GPU ) 8 pin socket's cable locking latch faces downwards & away from the PCB; it's upside down ! As you can see in my previous #36 post, I was forced to use the PowerLink as a bridge & mounted on my front intake fan. Not cool but it works.
Why AMD did that baffles me. A major departure from conventional and logical design and makes it almost impossible to unlock the socket latch with fingers - as we have been doing for so long - without removing the GPU with the 8 pin cable still attached.
Better safe than sorry. Good gut feeling choice.
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The PowerLink is pretty versatile except for RX 580s where the ( GPU ) 8 pin socket's cable locking latch faces downwards & away from the PCB; it's upside down ! As you can see in my previous #36 post, I was forced to use the PowerLink as a bridge & mounted on my front intake fan. Not cool but it works.
Why AMD did that baffles me. A major departure from conventional and logical design and makes it almost impossible to unlock the socket latch with fingers - as we have been doing for so long - without removing the GPU with the 8 pin cable still attached.
Hmm, anyone know if the Powerlink would work with an MSI Vega 56 "Air Boost"? According to my research the PCB is based on AMD's reference design, but uses a custom blower. Total length is 10.63 inches.
Hi
I'm running a MacPro 5,1 with dual X5675's, 4 1TB HDD's, a 1TB Samsung SSD, a 500GB Intel NVME SSD (using a PCI-e card) and a R9 280X graphics card powered off the motherboard connectors (original mini 6 pin tot 6 pin and a aftermarket mini 6 pin to 6+2 pin cable).
I would like to upgrade the graphics card to a Vega 56 and am wondering if I can use the EVGA Powerlink with the mini 6 pin to 6+2 pin cables or do I need 2 or 3 SATA to 6+2 pin cables for power?
I'm running a MacPro 5,1 with dual X5675's, 4 1TB HDD's, a 1TB Samsung SSD, a 500GB Intel NVME SSD (using a PCI-e card) and a R9 280X graphics card powered off the motherboard connectors (original mini 6 pin tot 6 pin and a aftermarket mini 6 pin to 6+2 pin cable).
I would like to upgrade the graphics card to a Vega 56 and am wondering if I can use the EVGA Powerlink with the mini 6 pin to 6+2 pin cables or do I need 2 or 3 SATA to 6+2 pin cables for power?
Maxx1987
Look at post #36
While that card is not a Vega 56 - it's an MSI Armor RX 580 8gb but you can see how it is being used as a bridge rather than being directly connected to the card as the GPU's 8 pin is 'upside down' with the 8 pin socket' retaining clip facing the GPU's PCB compared to all the older AMD 5xxx 7xxxx & R9 cards.
Anyway, if you use the PowerLink as a bridge for a Vega 56 you will need two male 8pin to female 8pin cables from the PowerLink's output . ..to . .the two 8 pin sockets on the GPU.
You could also run either a 3 or 3 X SATA to one by 6 or 8pin ( Powerlink comes with a spare insertable 6 pin input socket.
1.
TWO Mini 6 pin to ONE 8 pin to Powerlink
2.
( longer than normal ) TWO x SATA to ONE by 6 pin to the Powerlink ( look at post # 1 set up pics )
3.
TWO x Male 8 pin to Female 8 pin FROM the PowerLink TO the Vega 8pin sockets
You will end up with balanced power from . . ..
The 2 Mini 6pins. + the 2 X SATA. + the PCIe slot.
That theoretically shouldbe more than enough for a Vega 56.
Look at post #36
While that card is not a Vega 56 - it's an MSI Armor RX 580 8gb but you can see how it is being used as a bridge rather than being directly connected to the card as the GPU's 8 pin is 'upside down' with the 8 pin socket' retaining clip facing the GPU's PCB compared to all the older AMD 5xxx 7xxxx & R9 cards.
Anyway, if you use the PowerLink as a bridge for a Vega 56 you will need two male 8pin to female 8pin cables from the PowerLink's output . ..to . .the two 8 pin sockets on the GPU.
You could also run either a 3 or 3 X SATA to one by 6 or 8pin ( Powerlink comes with a spare insertable 6 pin input socket.
==============================================
Basic Vega 56 Powerlink setup.
POWER to the PowerLink
Basic Vega 56 Powerlink setup.
POWER to the PowerLink
1.
TWO Mini 6 pin to ONE 8 pin to Powerlink
2.
( longer than normal ) TWO x SATA to ONE by 6 pin to the Powerlink ( look at post # 1 set up pics )
=====================================
Power FROM the PowerLink TO the Vega 56
Power FROM the PowerLink TO the Vega 56
3.
TWO x Male 8 pin to Female 8 pin FROM the PowerLink TO the Vega 8pin sockets
You will end up with balanced power from . . ..
The 2 Mini 6pins. + the 2 X SATA. + the PCIe slot.
That theoretically shouldbe more than enough for a Vega 56.
Thanks for your reply!
I just got an Powercolor Red Dragon RX Vega 56 which has an 8 pin and 6 pin connector.
In this thread (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-pro-4-1-and-5-1-pcie-aux-power.2035519/) I understand that the mini PCIe would have enough power to power this card.
So is it the right thing to connect the mini 6 pin to 6 pin and mini 6 pin to 8 pin to the EVGA Powerlink and the Powerlink to the card? Or do I still need extra power?
set up the powerlink with 8 pin and 6pin plugs to fit into the graphcs card then just use two mini 6pin to 6pin to plug into the powerlink.
make sure the card i switched to the low power bios and make sure you are running at least mojave 10.14.5 or .6 because these versions had updated graphics drives for the Vega card which draws a bit more power from the PCI slot.... previous drivers took all the power form the mini 6 pins which is not ideal.
edit:
what are you using the Vega for ???? games or audio/video/photo editing?
for games I would consider supplementary power from the SATA port as decribed in an earlier post. for Photo/video editing the min 6 pins are enough.
I have been using a vega56 running of the 6 pins for quite a few months without problem.
Maxx1987
post #41 should yield enough power for a '56 -
I would definitely include the power from two HDD SATA sockets in the PCIe / HDD area ( you can mount and power the two SATA HDDs in the DVD drive cage with the two existing SATA cables )
The cable from the removed TWO SATA HDDs should now go to the PowerLink which has an interchangeable 6 pin socket . Cable = TWO x SATA to 1 X 6pin.
NOTE : You have to 'snip' off the left side clip from each SATA cable to allow it to fit and lock.
=============================
Here is the info from Post #41 again.
Basic Vega 56 Powerlink setup.
POWER TO the PowerLink
1.
TWO Mini 6 pin to ONE 8 pin to Powerlink
2.
( longer than normal ) TWO x SATA to ONE by 6 pin to the Powerlink ( look at post # 1 set up pics )
=====================================
Power FROM the PowerLink TO the Vega 56
3.
TWO x Male 8 pin to Female 8 pin FROM the PowerLink TO the Vega 8pin sockets
You will end up with total balanced power from the PowerLink from. . ..
. . . . . the 2 Mini 6pins. + the 2 X SATA. + the PCIe slot.
Should be more than enough for a Vega 56 but Pixlas would be needed for the Vega 64 by the look of it.
Powercolor Red Dragon RX Vega 56 should be a good choice due to dual slots design.
I never try any Vega 56. I jumped from RX580 to Radeon VII. But both my PNY XLR8 1080Ti and Radeon VII (dual slots, triple fans) works very well in cMP.
Is the Radeon VII stable in Mojave? I plan on using the above mentioned powerlink configuration. I’d prefer not to do the pixlas mod.
Also, is there any reason why the red dragon would be preferred over a dual fan card like the sapphire pulse Vega?
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Sapphire dual fans Vegas are wider than 2 slots. It will block the adjacent slot.
Yes, Radeon VII is 100% stable in latest 10.14.6.
However, if you want to use it without Pixlas mod, I highly suggest you go through my thread about how to downvolt the Radeon VII.
I posted a kext at there which allow the Radeon VII to run without Pixlas mod (even in Furmark) and without performance penalty (in fact, run faster).