9600GT Power Supply Help

[eddie86]

Hi Guys,

I have ordered a Geforce 9600GT and I'm now having a slight panic.

My current graphics card doesn't need an additional feed off the power supply.

It appears from what I have subsequently seen that the 9600GT needs a power connection and in the box you get an adapter that connects 2 X 4-pin Molex(?) connectors to the 6(?) pin PCI-e power connector on the card.

Is what I have said correct?

If so does it matter which Molex connectors the adapter lead is connected to? I assume 2 have to be connected?

My system seems to have 1 Molex connector hanging down near the GFX card, 1 up near the PSU and a further 1 in amongst the power cables that are cable-tied to the case. Can I just plug the adapter into any 2 of these?

Help will be much appreciated!!

Cheers,

Ed

 

[95thrifles]

Yes you can, it does not matter which one you use

 

[coupe69]

Yep should be fine running from a couple of the 4 pin molex's off your psu doesn't matter which one's so long as they're spare, what psu do you have?

 

[rkhroma]

The recommended Wattage for a 9600gt is 400W power supply unit with 26A on the 12v rail.

So it all depends on your PSU and how much hardware you got.

 

[eddie86]

Wow fast replies! You guys are awesome thanks!

The PSU is a HEC-550TD-PTE, max wattage being 550W.

Is this ok?

Is the 400W a minimum or the wattage that it should be run at?

Thanks,

Ed

 

[rkhroma]

"Only one 6-pin power connector is required and this video card is specified at a maximum of 95 watts at full load."
I cant remember where I got the 400W - I just remember seeing somewhere that they recommend a 400W PSU for a 9600GT

 

[LoadsaMoney]

400w will be the minimum, your 550w shouldn't have any trouble powering it.

 

[rkhroma]

400w will be the minimum, your 550w shouldn't have any trouble powering it.

Theres an answer from someone who knows his stuff.

 

[Corasik]

400w will be the minimum, your 550w shouldn't have any trouble powering it.

True from a certain point of view. Its pretty much the minimum that Nvidia will recommend based on cheap £20 PSU's which are often 250W supplies with a new label!!!. (Or older PSU's which had high amperage on the 5v rail, but weaker 12v rails)

The 8800GTX in my system uses a fair bit more power than a 9600GT, and yet my entire system uses <150w idle, and < 250w under gaming load.

Anyway, your PSU has a twin 12v rail design, with 18amp, and 17amp outputs. The 18 amp rail supplying the motherboard and cpu, with the 17 amp rail for everything else. Thats a little over 200W for the graphics card, fans, hard drives/cdrom etc. Plenty of power for the 95W 9600GT.