The Oblivion Hardware Thread...

[bonscott]

Originally posted by yin26
If I get home and see this picture, I'll slap myself and sell the computer. I'm not smart enough to have one, obviously:

http://wiki.ehow.com/Connect-A-Video-Card-Power-Cable-Correctly

Yin, you got a AGP version, right? If so then the connector should be exactly like the one in this picture. That's just a regular old power connection like you use to connect up to hard drives, cd drives, etc. My old 9800 had one as does this x800. Now if it's a PCI-E card then they require a special connector and your power supply would need to also come with that connector.

Basically, if your card has a power connector use it. If it doesn't then you obviously don't need to connect it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

THIS is why I wanted to buy a new computer from a vendor rather than making one myself. The last time I actually installed a video card was a 3dfx card that didn't need any connection to the power supply. There is a pretty good chance I would have totally have not done it this time around... unless the power supply had detailed instructions!

[yin26]

I was looking at the connectors in the PSU box, and there are some labelled PCI-E, but I didn't see any place to put them. The motherboard is PCI-E slot ready. Is it possible that I overlooked a cable that came with the card? Damn, I need to get home to see how dumb I am...

[yin26]

Thanks, Imran. I feel a tad better.

[Dis]

Originally posted by bonscott


Yin, you got a AGP version, right? If so then the connector should be exactly like the one in this picture. That's just a regular old power connection like you use to connect up to hard drives, cd drives, etc. My old 9800 had one as does this x800. Now if it's a PCI-E card then they require a special connector and your power supply would need to also come with that connector.

Basically, if your card has a power connector use it. If it doesn't then you obviously don't need to connect it.

yeah, what he said.

mine is am agp, not sure if i mentioned that

[Spaced Cowboy]

Sorry Yin26, I thought that you knew about the extra power for these cards....heck even my lowly 9800 has a power connector.

[yin26]

I can't wait to get home and see this. The PSU instructions said something like "use the PCI-E cable if you need one" and the card had no instructions. Also, I'm telling you, I must be blind and didn't see a place to plug in power!

[bonscott]

I thought I read somewhere that the Sapphire version of the x1600 Pro actually doesn't have a power connector because it didn't need it. I can't find that article anymore but I think it was in a review.

[yin26]

Jesus. No power supply. Just when I thought I had it.

Then there's this: http://www.sapphiretech.com/en/forum...ead.php?t=3056

[yin26]

All kinds of problems with this card reported on this forum: http://www.sapphiretech.com/en/forum...isplay.php?f=4 I'm going to try a straight return to see if I get lucky on a replacement, but I think I'm beginning to understand the low price on this card.

[Dis]

mine isn't a sapphire (is that the brand name). Not sure how much effect that would have. it just says ati radeon 1600 pro

and you guys were saying not to buy from stores, but over the internet. . Yeah I paid $250, but I'm happy with my purchase.

[yin26]

The Sapphire version was still $300 at Circuit City, Best Buy, and Comp USA. It's looking like Sapphire tried to save money by not have a separate power hook up, and it's causing people all kinds of trouble. Silly.

[Asher]

If you don't hook up the extra power cable on ATI cards, it'll stop during computer bootup and tell you to do it.

If you don't hook up the extra power cable on Nvidia cards, the card emits a loud squeal until you do.

[yin26]

Yeah, this is a Sapphire screw up.

[Asher]

By the way, my 7800GS runs stable at 505MHz core and 1.45GHz RAM.