Installation trouble with my new card

KiLLerCloWn · Post by **KiLLerCloWn** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:13 pm

Hi all,

my new asus EAH4870 DK 1G arrived the other day - thanks again for the recommendation

Couple of questions as I didn't get past some blinking red lights and a missing power connector message on install:

1) Only one 6 pin power connector came in the box. However the card has 2 slots. I assume I need 2 and a power connector is missing from the package?

(warning messago on boot tell me "one power connector" is missing, but it does so with one connected and with none connected, which made me a little suspicious.)

2) The power connector splits into 2 3pin/1whole molex connectors. Even if I had the 2 connectors, I rwouldn't have 4 free molex connectors from my power unit. So what do I need: more splitters for the moles or simpy a unit with more molex? Or are there units with 6 pin pci-e power connectors natively?

3) I read this card sucks up to 300 watts alone! My power supply is 450watts. In the light of 2) above I may have to go for a new one in any case - so do you have any recommendations?

Thanks for any help! Would be nice to install this now that I have the box sit here and stare at me all day

Cheers

KC/Chris

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:01 pm

If it has two 6 pin connectors then yes, you need to plug power into both of them. The reason only one adapter came in the box is because your PSU should already have a single 6 pin connector (some of the better ones have two). If your PSU doesn't already have a 6 pin connector then it is totally inadequate for the job. Any modern PSU would have one 6 pin connector so I assume this is an old PSU.

Wattage doesn't mean anything anymore, and PSU manufacturer's are notorious for inflating their wattage ratings, so ignore that. PSUs are rated for TOTAL wattage which is meaningless.

The only thing that really matters is the total number of amps on the 12 volt rails combined. At a bare minimum you should have TWO 12 volt rails each rated for 15 amps (30 amps total). However I would recommend something more than that just to have some overhead as you would be pushing that PSU VERY close to the edge with that video card.

This Antec Earthwatts EA500 PSU is rated for 34amps and would be adequate and you might find it locally. I've seen them at Best Buy and Office Depot: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817371007

A better deal would be this Rosewill RG630-2 with three 20 amp 12 volt rails on sale for $54.99 with free shipping: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817182185

I'm fairly sure that the Rosewill comes with two 6 pin molex connectors, so no need for an adapter.

I've been pretty happy with Rosewill PSUs lately. Good value.

KiLLerCloWn · Post by **KiLLerCloWn** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:02 pm

Excellent, thanks a lot Penguin!

C.