A gamer has treated himself to a new graphics card. However, the new RTX 3080 doesn’t quite fit into his gaming PC. And the size is the least of the problems.
A new and better graphics card is a highlight for many players. Because it often significantly increases performance, and games look much better afterward. A gamer is now posting on reddit a picture of a gaming PC. This was equipped by the owner with an RTX 3080. At the same time, the gamer had to realize that his PC simply shuts down after 15 minutes of Doom Eternal.
But the situation has several drawbacks. On one hand, the graphics card doesn’t fit properly into the system; on the other hand, the remaining components also don’t really match the graphics card. Especially the cable setup on the graphics card worries many players.
RTX 3080 with Molex cables is extremely dangerous
What are the problems? On one hand, the power supply with its 550 watts is too weak for the graphics card. However, the much bigger problem is the cable connection: The user connects his graphics card with a Molex-to-PCIe adapter.
Here, numerous players warn, as such adapters literally pose a fire hazard. Another gamer explains:
I agree that these adapters are a fire hazard; years ago I had one that literally melted the cable insulation while I was playing, and I didn’t notice until I smelled burning plastic. That was with a 550 ti, so I don’t know if that’s a better or worse scenario, but it seems more likely to melt than a 3080.
In this case, the gamer only bought a new graphics card and wanted to continue using the old power supply. Therefore, he bought an adapter to continue using the old Molex connectors. But especially with such adapters, you need to be extremely careful.
Moreover, there is still an old Intel processor from the 2nd generation in his system. The 2nd generation used DDR3 RAM and not the more modern DDR4. A YouTuber recently explained why old high-end processors can become a real cost trap.
Be careful with power supplies and adapters
Without a power supply (or in English PSU), no computer will start. Because the power supply powers all components of the system. However, if you don’t follow the rules here and don’t plug the cables into the correct openings, you can quickly risk a house fire. This was noted by a gamer who bought a new modular power supply.
In case of doubt, it is safer to buy a new power supply with suitable cables than to try to power a component with strange constructions. Because the possible costs of a cable fire are significantly higher than if you only need to buy a new power supply.
When it comes to the power supply, you should generally not skimp. If you only buy the cheapest power supply out of greed, you can end up with a lot of trouble in the worst case. Better to pay 70 euros than to opt for a cheap power supply for 20 euros from a “no-name” manufacturer, where in the worst case important fuses to protect your components may be missing.
To prevent the greatest risks, all major manufacturers rely on fuses. However, any protection can be circumvented in some way if you are “clever” enough. In the best case, double-check and triple-check before you not only destroy components but potentially also risk a house fire at the end.
Gamer warns that with a tiny mistake you can set your expensive PC hardware on fire
