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July 17th, 2022 21:00

Alienware R12, 1000W PSU, Have Eiswand 360. Need Molex power

Alienware Aurora R12

Alienware Aurora R12

Hi. Recently I've updated my Alienware 3080ti with water cooling (Eiswand 360), but I hate powering it out of the plug. My PSU doesn't seem to have a molex connection, SATA (can't find one either! at first I thought it was the regular sata connector to the motherboard, but the sata to molex that came recently was Duttek sata male to molex male).

 

I've read on reddit that it is dangerous to mess with the PSU's connections. So I'm afraid to get some 4-pin (or whatever there was cable to molex to power it directly from PSU)

4 Operator

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2.2K Posts

July 18th, 2022 09:00

What are the cables in the red box connected to . . . if anything?

Capture.JPG

4 Operator

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2.2K Posts

July 17th, 2022 21:00

Connect this Molex to SATA Adapter  to a SATA connector coming from your PSU . . . should be spares tucked up in the metal box.

Connect this Molex extension cable to the above adapter and run it out the back of your case through an open PCIe slot cover to the Eiswand Tower power connector.

Drop some photos of your project so others can learn, if you don't mind.

4 Operator

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2.2K Posts

July 17th, 2022 22:00

OK, I see you already have the correct adapter . . . that will work if you don't find a Molex power cable tucked away in your PSU.

I put in a Seasonic PSU so I had a modular Molex power cable, seen here connected to the blue 4-wire Molex extension cable that runs out the back of the case.  (click photos to embiggen)

Eiswand Molex.jpg

 

Then the Molex extension cable connects to the Eiswand Tower.

Eiswand Molex2.jpg

8 Posts

July 18th, 2022 00:00

I get it how it works, but I've spent enough money on all this. I don't want to spend more just to replace the psu. Mine doesn't have sata power slot. But I have those spare cables attached to psu...probably to power extra fans or something (see the picture - they are just strapped to the wall).

 

P.s. you think it is okay to remove that psu slots metal cover (on pictures it is already removed) - I don't see the point in it...just blocks more airflow and space

IMG_20220718_002653.jpg

IMG_20220718_002433.jpg

IMG_20220718_002358.jpg

9 Legend

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47K Posts

July 18th, 2022 01:00

@Trey_R 

Alphacool Eiswand 360 CPU Water Cooling Kit comes with a laptop brick to Molex power adapter.

Alphacool Eiswand  System B01MDQMS1J

 

Eiswand Manual

 

 

 

EISWAND.jpg

4 Operator

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2.2K Posts

July 18th, 2022 05:00

I was not suggesting that you get a new PSU . . . I was explaining why I had a modular Molex cable. You do not want to use those extra cables with the red connector ends . . . those are PCIe cables.

It is hard to see clearly with the spaghetti wiring, but it appears you have two power cables labeled R10 and R12 at the PSU end, with R11 empty in the middle. One of those cables looks like it goes down to the components in the lower SSD cages, and powers both with a pigtailed connector. Those are the type of SATA connectors you are looking for. Where does that other power cable go; R10 or R12, whichever one is not connected the the lower SSD cages?

 

9 Legend

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12.3K Posts

July 18th, 2022 08:00

Re: I've read on reddit that it is dangerous to mess with the PSU's connections.

Is it safe to convert sata to 12V molex in order to power liquid cooler?  Alphacool Eiswand Specifications Power Output: 24 W

Short answer: yes, it is possible.

Longer answer:  while it's possible, you probably shouldn't do it. 

SATA connectors aren't really designed to power liquid cooler.  In practice a lot of SATA connectors these days are manufactured using cheaper methods which can cause the SATA connectors to fail in horrible ways when there's significant amount of power going through them (let's say more than 20w).

For example, SATA connectors that use injection molding to seal the covers over the metal contacts can get hot when a lot of power goes through them, which can cause the metal contacts inside to move around and cause short circuits which can cause the connectors to burn.

PS power consumption

Solid State Drive SSD

0.6 to 2.8 W

2.5" Hard Disk Drive HDD

0.7 to 3 W

3.5" Hard Disk Drive HDD

6.5 to 9 W

9 Legend

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12.3K Posts

July 18th, 2022 09:00

to be on safe side, if 1000w psu has unused PCIe port (R1-R6 black)/PCIe cable, it may be better to use PCIe socket to molex adapters.

 

Capture.JPGDelta 0WTGN.jpg

 

4 Operator

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2.2K Posts

July 18th, 2022 09:00


@redxps630 wrote:

Is it safe to convert sata to 12V molex in order to power liquid cooler?  Alphacool Eiswand Specifications Power Output: 24 W

Actually, I believe it is the 120 volt to Molex 12 volt adapter that outputs 24 watts. The Eiswand Tower itself has 2 DC-LT 2600 ceramic pumps that use 4.9 watts, and 6 120mm fans, which use some unknown but small amount of watts.

8 Posts

July 18th, 2022 11:00

This is 100% safe and my PSU won't have any problems with it?

9 Legend

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12.3K Posts

July 18th, 2022 11:00

Yes, I think it is safe. It would be similar to using 6 pin PCIe cable to power a low power 25w video card. instead you are connecting a liquid pump and fans to it.  The 6 pin PCIe can supply up to 75w.  You do not plug any custom cable into Dell psu.

The cooler also offers a 12v to 7.5V molex adapter for lower noise.

(normally a low power video card w 20-50w TDP is plugged into motherboard PCIe slot which can supply up to 75w)

4 Operator

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2.2K Posts

July 18th, 2022 11:00

I'm pretty sure that is your SATA power cable with 2 connectors.

8 Posts

July 18th, 2022 11:00

will check. Such a pain to go there every time. Such an awfully small case

8 Posts

July 18th, 2022 23:00

THANK YOU! Those guys can hide wires really good, I thought those wires were powering the top fans...those were Y-splitted sata power cables. Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, surely enough I ordered the wrong adaptor I had to order female molex, instead I ordered male molex to sata...ugh

Also I ordered the longest molex wire, so I don't need to add extra wires. Just one adaptor and a cable.

 

Will make pictures, but for now - it looks freaking terrible + you've seen my build on reddit  

 

p.s. thank you so much for all the help!

4 Operator

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2.2K Posts

July 19th, 2022 07:00

yes, I recall our reddit discussions. I told you this was a much better forum for technical communications.

Good luck! . . . share some photos of your project when your are ready.

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