PCI-E supplementary power query!!

Reggie Pee · 12-19-2006, 12:25 PM

Just bought an XFX Nvidia 7900GT GFX card... Looks good, its heavy AND it needs power, not like my old 6600GT..

The power cable supplied has a 6 pin plug with pins like this ::: and the usual 4 pin legacy power plug.

As my motherboard is about a year old, that means its OLD, it doesn't have PCI-E supplementary power on the board.

As the GFX card has a Legacy power socket on it, would it be perfectly ok for me to plug in a normal Legacy power plug to power it???

Or do i need to get another motherboard with PCI-E power on it??

Many Thanks

Rob

crazijoe · 12-19-2006, 12:43 PM

Actually it's your PSU that is old. You may want to upgrade your PSU with one that has the PCI-e power connector.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103937

**UncleMacro** · 12-19-2006, 03:16 PM

If you've got one of these cards then it's fine to plug in the old 4 pin molex cable. They're fine for powering video cards. Most PCI-Express video cards come with 6 pin PCI-Express connectors but either will work properly. They both do the same thing: provide 12 volts to the video card.

By the way, despite being way faster, your 7900 GT uses about the same amount of power as a 6600 GT.

Reggie Pee · 12-20-2006, 03:07 PM

Thanks guys...

I had hoped that i couldve plugged 4 pin power into the card.

Im buying a new PSU tho cos i dont have enough peripheral power plugs with the amount of stuff plugged in in my system :-S

Many thanks, merry xmas n a happy new yr

Rob

12-19-2006, 12:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Reggie Pee Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 36 OS: windows xp	PCI-E supplementary power query!! Just bought an XFX Nvidia 7900GT GFX card... Looks good, its heavy AND it needs power, not like my old 6600GT.. The power cable supplied has a 6 pin plug with pins like this ::: and the usual 4 pin legacy power plug. As my motherboard is about a year old, that means its OLD, it doesn't have PCI-E supplementary power on the board. As the GFX card has a Legacy power socket on it, would it be perfectly ok for me to plug in a normal Legacy power plug to power it??? Or do i need to get another motherboard with PCI-E power on it?? Many Thanks Rob

12-19-2006, 12:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Actually it's your PSU that is old. You may want to upgrade your PSU with one that has the PCI-e power connector. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103937 __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

12-19-2006, 03:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	If you've got one of these cards then it's fine to plug in the old 4 pin molex cable. They're fine for powering video cards. Most PCI-Express video cards come with 6 pin PCI-Express connectors but either will work properly. They both do the same thing: provide 12 volts to the video card. By the way, despite being way faster, your 7900 GT uses about the same amount of power as a 6600 GT. Last edited by UncleMacro; 12-19-2006 at 03:19 PM.

12-20-2006, 03:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Reggie Pee Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 36 OS: windows xp	Thanks guys... I had hoped that i couldve plugged 4 pin power into the card. Im buying a new PSU tho cos i dont have enough peripheral power plugs with the amount of stuff plugged in in my system :-S Many thanks, merry xmas n a happy new yr Rob