9600GT into Dell E521, loud scary alarm sound?

[hirschma]

I wanted to upgrade the gf's computer with an XFX 9600GT that I had lying around.

I put it into her Dell POS E521, connected everything, powered up, and was nearly deafened by a constant tone (think the same tone as a smoke alarm, but constant).

I put my finger over the little mobo speaker; that didn't mute it, so i don't believe that the sound was coming from there.

Was this some kind of power alarm coming from either the video card or the power supply? The POS Dell only has a 305W power supply, but I figured she's skate by.

All I know - it was unbearably loud, and it scared me, the GF, and the dog 😉

I ended up pulling the card, reconnecting her new monitor via VGA, and it all works fine.

Anyone every encounter anything like this?

jh

 

[VirtualLarry]

It could have been a low-power or fan alarm on the card itself.

 

[StarBlast]

Just making sure since you said you did connect everything, but did you connect the additional 6 pin power cable required for the 9600 GT? My guess is that the 305W PSU does not have one so you would have to use adapters to make it work.

 

[AzN]

Originally posted by: StarBlast
Just making sure since you said you did connect everything, but did you connect the additional 6 pin power cable required for the 9600 GT? My guess is that the 305W PSU does not have one so you would have to use adapters to make it work.

 

[Acanthus]

That sound is an alarm indicating you did not properly power the card.

 

[bluemax]

I'm guessing no 6-pin connection - especially since that PSU doesn't have one and you need to use an adapter. (I'm using the slim version of the same - the C521.)

Next time follow the instructions. 😉

 

[BlueAcolyte]

In case you havent been told already, your card is not getting enough power. 😛 My 8800GT made that noise when I forgot the power plug, scared the shit out of me.