No 6 pin PCIe power on 6600GT PCIe video cards?

[Zap]

I just read somewhere that someone having dual 6600GT cards in SLI were getting occasional driver messages stating not enough power. They said they think the problem due to the card not having the external 6 pin PCIe power connector. I just ordered a PNY 6600GT PCIe from Newegg on Friday ($100AR) and looked up the pictures and indeed the card does not have the power connector. In fact, none of them do. Looks like all of them (all I looked at) have the solder pads for the power connector, but no actual power connector.

Why is that? Does the card really not need it? I know that the 6600 doesn't need it presumably from the lower clock speeds, but was under the impression that the 6600GT did need it.

 

[jiffylube1024]

The 6600GT gets enough power from the PCI-e slot. However, when running two of them in SLI, it begins to stress the motherboard and the PSU and reveals weaknesses in your system.

On boards such as the DFI, which has two extra power connectors (a 4-pin molex and a 4-pin floppy connector) for PCI-e cards, there should be no problem. However, cheaper quality motherboards, or weaker PSU's would really get exposed by SLI.

 

[lifeguard1999]

jiffylube1024 is correct. Just as a side note, check your temperatures on your 6600GT at idle and at load. It seems that not all 6600GT heatsinks are attaching securely leading to temps at load being in the 90's C range.

 

[Zap]

Thanks for the replies. I'm already planning to replace the heatsink on it with a passive dual heatpipe Evercool. Don't intend to run SLI so I should be okay. Thanks.

 

[Zap]

Just got the video card in and not only is the PCIe power connector not there, the PCB has changed and there are not even solder pads for the connector. I wonder if they went cheap and started using the normal 6600 PCB for the GT?

 

[Crescent13]

I mean no offense, but if you don't know stuff like this, then how excactly did you become an elite member?

anyway, did you get the AGP 6600GT? That would mean different pcb layout, and no power connector. Make sure you check your temps with rivatuner, I have a 6600GT, and the heatsink wasn't on tightly. I was getting 56C idle, 78C load, then I bought the zalman vf700CU. now my temps are 43C idle, and 54C load, and i'm overclocked at 580/1200 right now artifact free.

 

[hytek369]

i got a leadtek one and it does not have a power plug either.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Crescent13
I mean no offense, but if you don't know stuff like this, then how excactly did you become an elite member?

There are any number of categories here and not just video. If the mods felt I deserved Elite status then I must have done something right, no? Just look up my posts in other categories, specifically Motherboards, CPU/Processors and Overclocking and Cases and Cooling. My post count may not be too high but I go for quality over quantity, if you catch my drift, plus I act online just as I act in person - mature, whenever possible.

Besides, whatever happened to the idea that the only dumb question is the one not asked?

This was my first 6600GT. The card differs from the pictures. That was why I asked. My other video cards have been 6800GT, 6800LE (two of them), 5900XT (three of them). What I know are what I've personally owned/played with, plus what I see/read online and apparently the PCB I received is different than what the pictures show. I was given bad information - can't be helped.

Originally posted by: Crescent13
anyway, did you get the AGP 6600GT? That would mean different pcb layout, and no power connector. Make sure you check your temps with rivatuner, I have a 6600GT, and the heatsink wasn't on tightly. I was getting 56C idle, 78C load, then I bought the zalman vf700CU. now my temps are 43C idle, and 54C load, and i'm overclocked at 580/1200 right now artifact free.

Thanks for the info and suggestion on the heatsink. Mine is PCIe. I'm testing some settings on my motherboard (as in overclocking and running Prime/Memtest) and haven't installed drivers for Windows yet. My plan is to install an Evercool dual heatpipe passive cooler on this card. The case is well ventilated with 120mm fans and I'm not planning to overclock the core.

 

[Zap]

Got stuff installed. Rivatuner reports GPU at 39ºC running 300MHz (2D mode).