The problem of connecting power to the video card is mainly faced by the owners of top-end models that require additional power. However, for some, this operation may cause some difficulties. We will try to prevent possible mistakes.
It is necessary
- - information about the power of your power supply
- - information about the types of video connectors on your motherboard
- - the ability to distinguish AGP slots from x16 PCI-E slots.
Instructions
Step 1
Usually the purchase of expensive models of video cards is not done "just like that". The decision to buy a particular card should be based not only on the fact that there is not enough power to process graphics, but also taking into account the existing motherboard and power supply.
Step 2
First of all, correlate the power consumption of the card you want to buy with the power of your power supply. As a rule, cards with additional power supply require a power supply of 450 watts or more from the PSU.
Step 3
Therefore, if you have a 350 W or less power supply, the new video card will simply refuse to work due to lack of power.
Step 4
First of all, make sure that the format of the plug-in card matches the video connector on your motherboard. There are currently two main connectors for video cards:
- AGP;
- x16 PCI Express. The picture shows an example of an AGP slot.
Step 5
This paragraph shows an example of 2 x16 PCI-E slots (2nd and 4th, counting from top to bottom).
Step 6
As you can see, their main difference is that an AGP video card has a row of gold-plated contacts split into two or three parts, while for an x16 PCI Express card this row is split into a very small row of contacts at the beginning, and the rest is solid. According to this, the slots for such video cards will be different.
Step 7
The next point is that the video card has additional power connectors. Take a close look at your card - in most cases, if it has a connector for additional power, it is located on the edge of the video card, opposite to the side with connectors for connecting monitors. There are usually 6 inputs for this connector. Perhaps, there are also models with 4 inputs.
Step 8
To give the card full power, you must find a power supply cord terminated with a plug that fits the auxiliary power inputs on the video card.
Step 9
If you suddenly did not find such a cord, then carefully study the contents of the package with the video card. Often, kits with cards come with adapters that allow you to connect additional power even in the absence of the required connectors.
Step 10
Connect the cable carefully to the appropriate connector on the graphics card. Now try to start the system. If you did everything correctly, and the card still does not work, then either it is faulty or there is not enough power from the power supply unit.
