Have Questions installing 7900gs card in dell dimension e520...

[cohenfive]

hi, i've tried dell tech support chat and they were amazingly useless so i'm turning here for help....sorry for the basic questions...

i have a new dell e520 and have purchased an evga 7900gs graphics card to upgrade from the 7300 that came with it. the 7300 just plugs into the mobo, but the 7900gs has a plug at one end that i think is a supplemental power adapter. the card came with a cable that looks like it will go into the plug, with 2 white plugs (three wires each) at the other end. here are my questions:

1. do i have to use this supplemental power adapter or will the card run just plugged into the mobo like the 7300?
2. i see only one free set of wires coming out of the dell ps, and that set of wires has what looks like a matching for the evga. if i have to use the adapter can i just plug one of the plugs in and leave the other one hanging?
3. the free plug coming out of the ps is attached to the back of one of my optical drives. it looks like wire management just to keep them from hitting anything, does this make sense? can i pull the little plastic thingy out to free up those wires to plug into the 7900gs?

thanks, i'm trying to be thorough in describing my problem...dell doesn't seem to care...

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: cohenfive
hi, i've tried dell tech support chat and they were amazingly useless so i'm turning here for help....sorry for the basic questions...

i have a new dell e520 and have purchased an evga 7900gs graphics card to upgrade from the 7300 that came with it. the 7300 just plugs into the mobo, but the 7900gs has a plug at one end that i think is a supplemental power adapter. the card came with a cable that looks like it will go into the plug, with 2 white plugs (three wires each) at the other end. here are my questions:

1. do i have to use this supplemental power adapter or will the card run just plugged into the mobo like the 7300?
2. i see only one free set of wires coming out of the dell ps, and that set of wires has what looks like a matching for the evga. if i have to use the adapter can i just plug one of the plugs in and leave the other one hanging?
3. the free plug coming out of the ps is attached to the back of one of my optical drives. it looks like wire management just to keep them from hitting anything, does this make sense? can i pull the little plastic thingy out to free up those wires to plug into the 7900gs?

thanks, i'm trying to be thorough in describing my problem...dell doesn't seem to care...

1. Dell technical support can barely support thier own hardware what makes you think they care or are trained about your 3rd party hardware.
2. The card you have requires the suplimental power, from your description, yes you should be able to hook up the adapter as you described.
3. DO NOT EXPECT DELL TO CARE ABOUT YOUR 3RD PARTY HARDWARE. Want answers? CALL THE MAKER OF YOUR 3RD PARTY HARDWARE IT'S NOT THEIR JOB!!!

4. You probably want to check the installation guide that came with your card to walk you through the installation process, if you do not understand any part of it call evga.

 

[cohenfive]

i was not happy with my conversation with dell to say the least...

i also chatted with evga who said i should get a new psu. that being said, the first thing they recommended was to get a splitter for the psu 4 pin plug coming from the psu that is free. i've seen them on ebay for about $4, think i should try that first. guys here have said that the stock dell psu should have enough power, i just have to get the splitter to hook up both plugs on the 7900gs power adapter. hopefully that will work...