8800GTX Power problem

[johntmanic]

Hi people,

It's been a while since I've been in the PC game so I have a question for you?

I've recently purchased this system...

DELL PRECISION 690,,,
Twin Dual Core XEON 3.20 GHz - Ht shows eight cpu's in device Manager
2x Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU @ 3.20GHz•
500 GIG SATA HARD DRIVE,
4GB RAM Fast Quad Channel 4X 512mb STICKS
16x Dual Layer DVD Burner
256MB Nvidia Quadro 3500 Pci Express Graphics Card

I opened it up last night to swap the 3500 for my 8800GTX (I know it's an old card but it's good enough for me).

I go to put my 8800GTX in there and it requires 2 no. 6 pin power connectors and the PSU in the system only has one!

I found a 4 pin molex to 6 pin pci-e connector which has 2 x molex inputs and one 6 pin output.

But I only have 2 of the 4 pins connectors left coming out of the PSU on the same run (if that makes sense?)

Will that matter?

Thanks a lot

John

 

[Admiral Huddy]

Nope as long as there's adequate power from the PSU for the system to work, it should be fine. Using molex to pci-e connectors was once common, even with spliters which you can use to extend your connectors. In fact, some cards used to ship with them.

 

[johntmanic]

So I plug both of the 4 molex connectors on the same line into the 4 pin molex to 6 pin pci-e connector then into the graphics card?

Last night I only used one of the 4 pin molex's into the converter and it worked fine? Just as a test. So I'll plug them both in tonight!

The 4 pin molex to 6 pin pci-e connector actually came with the graphics card itself?

If it was a brand new top of the range graphics card then I'd have bought a brand new PSU for the whole system?

 

[Admiral Huddy]

Yes. Give that a try. The worse that can happen is that the system becomes unstable due to your PSU not supplying enough power and/or current over the rails. Do you know the what PSU you have? It should state the total output and the ampage?

Newer PSUs "split" the the load across multiple rails so ideally the 2 pci power connectors are separately sourced. If your PSU is a single rail PSU then it's irrelevant which cable you place your extenders, splitters on. Knowing more about your PSU will help.

This may help you understand a little better
http://www.huddysworld.co.uk/index....hics-card-part-1-choosing-your-new-card#Power requirements

The cable you have, is it the same as the picture in my article?

 

[johntmanic]

I'll find out the PSU when I get home and let you know - I'd have thought it was a half decent one (for the time) for the 2 dual core CPU's and Ram and card that's in there!

I do have a modular PSU in my old system that has 2 no. 6 pin outputs but whether or not it has enough outputs for the motherboard I don't know? (I'm sure it has 2 no. 12 pin power inputs on it?).

I've just had a look on the link and the cable I have is similar to the one you show except there's 2 4 pin inputs rather than the one?

Thanks a lot for this.

John

 

[johntmanic]

I've just downloaded the Dell 690 workstation document (as I'm at work) and with regards to the power supply it says.....

750 or 1000 watt Power Factor Correcting (PFC) power supply

Even if it's the lesser of the 2 it should be enough shouldn't it?