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Can you connect a 4870 with one PCI express power?

Pate

Pate

Pate

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23 Jun 2009
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My Stupid dell psu has loads of sata connectors but no molex (so can't use adapters) and only one PCI express port.

Will the card function on just one PCI express power connected? There are easily enough amps on the PSU.

Regards
 
I seriously doubt those "cut-corner" generic PSU that Dell uses would be good enough to power a 4870.

Rule number 1 about generic PSU is to take the spec written on the label as lighter than a pinch of salt...they will NEVER deliver what they claims it they are capable of.
 
To be fair, I've found Dell PSU's in the past to be quite good for power ratings. Often they understate what they are capable of, maybe its changed since the last time I had one though.

As for plugging in one connector, its not advisable. Couldn't tell you if it would work or not, but if it did, I'd be very wary about using it.
 
Nymins said:
To be fair, I've found Dell PSU's in the past to be quite good for power ratings. Often they understate what they are capable of, maybe its changed since the last time I had one though.

As for plugging in one connector, its not advisable. Couldn't tell you if it would work or not, but if it did, I'd be very wary about using it.
Click to expand...
The PSU comes with only ONE PCI-E connector for a reason...and the fact OP says the PSU doesn't even have molex connector means he get a 2nd PCI-E power, and using only one PCI-E on the 4870 is bascially playing with fire.

Even if the PSU had molex connector for using adapter to PCI-E, I wouldn't do it on a PSU provided by Dell...the bare minimum would be something like the Corsair CX430.
 
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I'm not saying he should run it on it, obviously because it only has one PCI-e connector and no molex.

I'm saying that Dell PSU's are not as bad as you make them out to be. I repeat, I wouldn't advise using the 4870 on it, but their PSU's aren't that bad.
 
You can buy leads that convert 1 pci-e power connector into 2. I've used them before and it works fine if your PSU is still decent.
 
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