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above, 850i has x5 8pin ports ... how many of them are used depends on your hardware. The CPU & Video/Grfx/PCI-E ports are shared, meaning you plug a cable into any of the 5 & your mthrbrd/cards get the 12volts/grounds they need
Some 1080s get one 8pin (6+2) power port (Founders Editions). If you're buying that type of 1080, duals, then you'll deploy x2 cables to feed your pair + your CPU cable:
- x3 8pin modular ports will be used, x2 will remain open
- GPU_PWR can then get its own cable
Some 1080s (Asus Strix etc) have a pair of 8pins (maybe a 6pin + 8pin), or simply need x2 cables to feed their dual-power ports. If so, x4 of your 8pin ports will be used to power cards, CPU needs a cable also, & therefore you run out of ports to power GPU_PWR, ie the power supply isn't full enough on the front panel to power it all. I think we'd note that 850i is best suited to 1080FE cards
1000i has x6 8pin ports: it can power 1080 cards that use dual-power inputs, it can power the CPU port, it can power the GPU_PWR port, ie all x6 8pin front panel ports are there at your disposal
What is GPU_PWR?
It's supplementary power to the PCI-E slots / lanes, call it 'easy 12volt access' to the PCI-E lanes. The gold contacts (gold teeth) on your video card that plug into your mthrbrd also draw 12volts (that is provided through the motherboard 24pin ATX cable). To 'help' a video card get freer access to 12volts (normally coming through the 24pin ATX cable), SOME motherboard makers have an exterior port to feed the PCI-E lanes, in this example, Aurora uses an 8pin port:
- the stock 460watt powers GPU_PWR through a 4pin
- the stock 850watt powers it through a 6wire 8pin
If you use for example Asus Strix (dual-power) 1080s in tandem with 850i, I would simply leave the GPU_PWR 8pin port bare:
- note: chances are you're going to get a CPU cable that is a 4+4
- x1 '4pin' inserts into mthrbrd CPU port
- x1 4pin is 'open'
If you can obtain a 4pin extension? You might tap into that open 4pin, power your GPU_PWR with it, the same way the stock 460watt only uses a 4pin (in that 8pin connector)
Or --> if they give you a ribbon cable? Split it down the middle:
- send 1/2 of the 4+4 to the CPU
- send the other 4p to GPU_PWR
Note that Corsair sells individual cables ~$5 each), so if you're reluctant to burn a new 4+4 cable by splitting it down the middle, you can of course buy a new one & store it in your pouch
- corsair.com/en-us/power-supply-units/psu-accessories
- buy the 4+4 ribbon
above, top row, my 8pin male is a stand-in for GPU_PWR 8pin male ... bottom row is an empty 4pin male, a stand-in for Aurora's mthrbrd 4pin CPU port
- 1) the 4+4 females plug into 8pin
- 2) a 4pin goes into 'Aurora CPU 4pin', a 4pin stays behind for GPU_PWR
- 3) the 4pins can be 'switched', or, either 4pin allows a scenario such that CPU gets a 4pin, GPU_PWR at least gets a 4pin as supplemental power
Your options? Buy 1000i, or, any type name brand PSU with x6 8pin ports
Still want 850i & get power to GPU_PWR?
- then use 1080FE single 8pin cards, which leaves a cable open to power GPU_PWR
if using dual-power (6/8 r 8/8) cards (now or later)
- split the 4+4 CPU cable, send a 4pin down to GPU_PWR, I suppose it's better than nothing
I doubt 1080s need supplemental power, however Titan XP or newer 1080Ti cards might like GPU_PWR, so you have time to think this through I suppose. Maybe try 850i with 1080s, toss 1000i in down the road, later, if you go with 250watt+ cards (1080s are only 180watt cards)
DELL-Chris M
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Posted August 30th, 2016 18:00
Thanks Cass-Ole for the great response! Per your note, I have edited the title for aries1969.
DELL-Chris M (old account)
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ccortez1031
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Posted September 20th, 2016 13:00
Could you tell me the name of the connectors needed to connect the PSU to the optical drive and the processor power cable? I recently purchased the Corsair cx750m, but could not hook up those two items to the PSU. Thanks!
C > Cx750M is a semi-modular chassis, meaning it has both permanent cables (24p ATX & CPU 8pin) & an assortment of pluggable modular cables
The 8pin CPU cable is actually a 4+4, which means it pulls apart & becomes x2 4pins:
- split it apart & pop one into the top left CPU 4pin header
- the 2nd 4pin will key into the mid GPU Aux header, but it won't click
- pop it in and don't disturb it
Video Card & Optional CPU 8pin:
if your video card only has one power port / header (Nvidia 1080 FE etc x1 8pin):
- use one 6+2 modular cable
- you may then use the 2nd Cpu 8pin modular cable in your mid GPU Aux header
if your video card has x2 power ports:
- use both 6+2s
- modular CPU 8pin can't be used now
- go back to the 4pin off the permanent CPU cable, as was said prior
The SATA / Molex modular ports:
- plug in what you need
what does your DVD power connector look like? post a photo?
*** CX750M can not support SLI X-Fire dual-cards, there aren't enough ports to power dual cards
In the future, perhaps try a chassis that is 100% fully modular & a full front panel with plenty of connectors, especially when using SLI X-Fire dual-cards
A good candidate for Aurora is EVGA 850 G2 / P2 / T2 with x4 Video & x2 CPU ports
savageacee
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Posted November 19th, 2016 04:00
I'm lost a bit. I just bought the alienware aurora r5 and I need to update the psu so I can get 2 Nvidia 1080 GPUs in. I'm going to order the HX850i. I kinda know how to connect a power supply from watching youtube videos. when I opened up my aurora I noticed a port called gpu_pwr. I thought the cords going into the gpu is all it needed. how do I know what to put in there when I upgrade the psu.
JAustin2014
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Posted January 18th, 2017 22:00
How is the Aurora working out for you? I am thinking of purchasing one but have heard some horror stories about the noise, particularly the power supply. If so, I am likely gonna go with a corsair 600W, that should fit.
MatthewRiot
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Posted September 19th, 2017 18:00
I'm not quite sure how to add a picture on this board - but referring to the comment above about the cord linking to the optical drive the prt he is mentioning I am having the same trouble finding it is labeled on one side "p4" - it looks like a similar plug to one you would use to plug into the back of say an SSD drive - has 6 points of contact and is a female part. It however is not the same size as the power supply to a ssd drive. It looks a tad smaller. Has that typical L shape as well. I wish I could attach a picture because I have one. Am having a terrible time figuring out what this part is called so I can find it connect to an 8pin and buy it. Until then everything works after swapping out the aurora r5 with the EVGA supernova 750 G3 - I also had similar problems with the computer freezing and resetting constantly - I actually returned the first one I received only to have the second one have the same issue. My best guess is the power unit was a hair under being sufficient. Not sure how alienware missed the ball so bad on that.
eBay search term = Micro SATA DVD or Micro SATA Power or SlimLine SATA (DVD/Power etc)
"Not sure how alienware missed the ball so bad on that" ... the motherboard can not be swapped on Aurora R5 R6 & probably soon-to-be Covfefe Lake R7 for something else; the case intentionally isn't reusable & that discourages me from owning one. I agree a ball was dropped
Used Delta 850watt N1WJD w/case harness can be found on eBay sometimes. Stay away from Area-51 cables. Good luck with what u both need
MatthewRiot
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Posted September 20th, 2017 06:00
Thank you so much for your quick reply, Cass! You totally nailed it even without the images - I'm replying on an iPhone and maybe that's why I don't have that bar with the camera and text editing etc.
again, thanks this was driving me nuts. No matter what I was searching nothing was coming up for it! Cheers!

Cass-Ole
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Posted August 30th, 2016 18:00
FYI: with the edit function u can change your post title to 'Aurora R5 Power Supply Size', so clickers know what the query is
It does use a standard size of W 150mm x H 86mm | 5.9" x 3.4", where length / depth is the variable which changes based on size / output etc. Their 460w is about 5.5" long while their 850 is 7.5" long. Both of their power supplies will have short manageable cables while an aftermarket chassis may come with long cables (one size fits all), where a swap from theirs into a new one requires diligence to cable manage any new cables while being mindful the swing-arm has to shut fully & the side panel go back on, therefore care is warranted when installing a new chassis with new cables ie 'work slow & think it through'