Recently my video card went to the heavens. It was a GeForce 660GT, and was great while alive. After I diagnosed that as the problem as to why my PC didn't function, I replaced it with a GeForce 8800GT OC. Both are (were) PCI-E. Anyways, these are my concerns with the new card. Please answer if you can, I've searched the HP website and could not find my answer.
Computer is a HP Pavillion a1130n with an AMD Athlon 64 3500+ processor. I bought it about 2.5 years ago. Onboard graphics card was integrated ATI crap unit. Like I said, after upgrading to the 6600GT, the computer functioned wonderfully. Graphics were superb, no problems. About 2 weeks ago it went out. The new card is the 8800GT. I installed it the same, but this one needs a power supply. Inside my case were two, 4-pin molex connectors. The card came with a "Y" power adapter for the card. I hooked it up, and the computer runs great, in all basic means. However, I can no longer run my demanding graphics games. They all crash upon launch.
Is it possible that my Molex adapters are not putting out enough power for the card, or does this sound like something else. Older games will work, that aren't so demanding.
According to the BFG website, my card needs 425Watts PCI-E slot with 12volts of 28Amps or more.
Is this card being underpowered, or should the power supplies be met with what I have? Thanks for any and all advice. Mike

Those "Y"s do not work.

You need two powered molex into the card so you go from 8 pin to six pin.

By this I mean two direct lines back to the PSU.

The 6 pin > 4 pin molex adapter is not a "splitter" per se.

Both 4 pin molex need to be hot wires (straight from the PSU).

12 Volts via each line.



From my experience this will very strongly stress the PSU.


You really need a PSU with a dedicated 6 pin PCI_E for an 8800 card.

The GTX require dual 6 pin.

I'd also say a minimum of 500 Watts and doubt that that computer has that.


...

Well i know my 8800GT has 1 6-pin molex connector.

My PSU is a Corsair VX550
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004
Never had ANY problems with it. Runs it flawlessly.

Jesse your PSU has a dedicated 6 pin PCI_E line.

These are not technically "Molex" which are 4 pins.

Mr. M is using a 4 pin molex + 4 pin molex ---> 6 pin "Y"

Originally Posted by jephree

Jesse your PSU has a dedicated 6 pin PCI_E line.

These are not technically "Molex" which are 4 pins.

Mr. M is using a 4 pin molex + 4 pin molex ---> 6 pin "Y"

Oops, sorry, thought they were all molex connectiors(4,6, and 8[?]). Guess not

Molex is the name of the company that makes these 4 pin connectors.

Until the advent of 6 and 8 pin connectors Molex was used generically like Kleenex for tissue.

Anyway it is just a brand name for those 4 pin modules.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molex

So from what you guys are telling me, I am underpowering my card...It's been installed and running for about a week. Is it possible I've caused it damage? And could this be the cause of my gaming problems?
Jephree, if the "Y" adapter is worthless, why did it come with the card? Thanks for all the great responses so far.

The "Y" adapter is not worthless it is just inadequate.

Manufacturers of PCI_E models that require single 6 pin power leads include the adapter so that people would not "Need" to change out old PSU's. It helps to sell cards.

However this is always going to "bottle-neck" the power to the card.

As you have experienced it will run at some level "ok" but will not run the card at the card's maximum potential.

In my experience the damage, or risk, is towards the PSU and not the card. You are stressing the PSU beyond anything it was designed for.

If you stick with the "Y" it is important that you have both molex lines direct from the PSU "With no other devices" on the rail (line). Again this is not always possible as older PSU's do not often have that many independent lines.


Also I see that that PC ships with a 300 Watt PSU. This is just not adequate for this card. Neither the Watts nor the Amps.

I'd suggest at least a 500 Watt. The one messyjesse linked to would be fine.



...

I went today and bought a BFG 550w PSU. Gonna install it soon here, see how it goes. Thanks again for all responses. Great site!

Cool. Let us know how it goes.