Dumb Question About PCIe Video Card

[VanceVP]

I am finally going to upgrade/new build my system. I have not kept up with the technology so I'm here to ask for some clearification on my dumb question.

I am thinking that I am going to go with a Galaxy GeForce 9400 GT Video Card - 512MB.

Regardless of the video card, I've been looking at them and at PSU's and I see that most of the new PSU's have 1 or 2 PCIe plugs. However, in looking at the VC's, I don't see any place to plug in the PSU.

Am I not seeing something or do the PCIe cards get their power thru the slot on the motherboard.

If these VC's don't need their own power, then I can use a new 480W PSU I have sitting around but doesn't have a PCIe plug.

Any thoughts on this from the hardware experts?

[Delirium]

Not all video cards require the additional power. The OC'd 7800 I have from BFG does require it but the back up 8 series video card I have doesn't. The 7800 runs rings around the other card tho.

edit: before someone thinks Tildeath is putting 7800s in his current builds, the 7800 is in my OLD machine.

[eagl]

That's a low-end card, so it might not require power from the PSU.

Also, most cards that require power from the PSU will include adapter plugs for use with older PSUs without the plugs designed specifically for video cards.  So if you need power from the PSU, there should be an adapter included in the box with the card.  If there isn't, return the card and get another one because this is pretty much a standard item that should be included in the box.

Consider that for a little bit more though, you can probably get a much nicer vid card.  The 9400 isn't very fast.  What card will the 9400 be replacing?

[Delirium]

What kind of motherboard do you have, Vance?

[VanceVP]

Delirium, what I am going to order from TigerDirect for this build is:

Asus M3A78-CM Motherboard - AMD780V, Socket AM2/AM2+, MicroATX, Audio, Video, Hybrix CrossFire, DVI, DP, VGA, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, Serial ATA, RAID

AMD Athlon X2 7750 Black Edition Processor AD775ZWCGHBOX - 2.70GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 2MB L3 Cache, 1800MHz (3600 MT/s) FSB, Kuma, Dual-Core, Unlocked Multiplier, Retail, Socket AM2+, Processor

Western Digital Caviar 750GB Hard Drive WD7501AALS - SATA-3G, 7200rpm, 32MB

EVGA GeForce 9500 GT Video Card - 1GB DDR2, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Support, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV, VGA Support

Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB)

Masscool Hard Drive Cooler Fan fits 3.5" Drives


Now I'm not real sure about the VC I have listed. If I can get away with something a little less expensive, that would be great as I am on a pretty tight budget. If whatever VC I do go with doesn't require external power, then I can use the 480W PSU that I already have - which will save me a few more bucks. Again, I don't see anything or anywhere to plug power into this card either.

Thanks,
Vance

[BaldEagl]

Lower end cards are powered through the slot.  Higher end cards need various configurations of 6 or 8 pin PCIe connectors to supply additional power.

[TheZohan]

Delirium, what I am going to order from TigerDirect for this build is:

Asus M3A78-CM Motherboard - AMD780V, Socket AM2/AM2+, MicroATX, Audio, Video, Hybrix CrossFire, DVI, DP, VGA, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, Serial ATA, RAID

AMD Athlon X2 7750 Black Edition Processor AD775ZWCGHBOX - 2.70GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 2MB L3 Cache, 1800MHz (3600 MT/s) FSB, Kuma, Dual-Core, Unlocked Multiplier, Retail, Socket AM2+, Processor

Western Digital Caviar 750GB Hard Drive WD7501AALS - SATA-3G, 7200rpm, 32MB

EVGA GeForce 9500 GT Video Card - 1GB DDR2, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Support, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV, VGA Support

Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB)

Masscool Hard Drive Cooler Fan fits 3.5" Drives


Now I'm not real sure about the VC I have listed. If I can get away with something a little less expensive, that would be great as I am on a pretty tight budget. If whatever VC I do go with doesn't require external power, then I can use the 480W PSU that I already have - which will save me a few more bucks. Again, I don't see anything or anywhere to plug power into this card either.

Thanks,
Vance

off the topic but noticed you was running the KUMA too .. do you have the X2 bug on your system?

[The Fugitive]

....
AMD Athlon X2 7750 Black Edition Processor AD775ZWCGHBOX - 2.70GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 2MB L3 Cache, 1800MHz (3600 MT/s) FSB, Kuma, Dual-Core, Unlocked Multiplier, Retail, Socket AM2+, Processor.....

Thanks,
Vance

You do know there is an issue with the game working on an AMD CPU. There is a bug in the AMD CPUs that some games, like Aces High hit. In Aces High it cause the clipboard to spin. The only way to get it to stop....in most cases... is to shut down one of the cores in your CPU. Intel CPUs do not have this issue.

[Denholm]

The Fugitive, the problem is with 2 and 3 core CPUs from AMD only. Their quad (4) core CPUs do not have this issue.

[Skuzzy]

It is also possible AMD finally fixed the bug in late generation dual core CPU's.  Zohan asked the right question.  I really would like to hear from others using those late generation dual core AMD CPU's.

It would be nice to say AMD finally addressed the bug.  I just need more than one confirmation.  The more the merrier.

[TheZohan]

You do know there is an issue with the game working on an AMD CPU. There is a bug in the AMD CPUs that some games, like Aces High hit. In Aces High it cause the clipboard to spin. The only way to get it to stop....in most cases... is to shut down one of the cores in your CPU. Intel CPUs do not have this issue.

um fugitive .. i dont have the bug and i have the same X2 7750 kuma ..

this is being discussed in another thread.

this X2 is a phenom core and i dont get the spinning clipboard or other bug related stuff i got with my other X2's

[Getback]

Vance, hate to use you as a guinea pig but let us know how that build works out with the x2 7750.

Also, I think I would go with a stronger vc.

[Buzzard7]

I think you can get an adapter to plug into a standard four pin from your PSU so it will work with the extra power plug on the VC.

[TheZohan]

i got one of those adapters dual 4 pin molex to 6 pin and it didnt work, i dont think my rails could handle it though.  i got me a new PSU with a 6-pin already on it and card worked fine.

[The Fugitive]

um fugitive .. i dont have the bug and i have the same X2 7750 kuma ..

this is being discussed in another thread.

this X2 is a phenom core and i dont get the spinning clipboard or other bug related stuff i got with my other X2's

I understand, but if I'm about to drop $1000 on a computer build I'd rather build one that I'm sure I won't have an issue with than one that I "might" have an issue with. I myself won't drop a dime on an AMD processor untill I've seen a lot more write up saying they haven't had an issue.