PCIe Mobo Install Questions

[rickshobbies]

OK, I am getting ready to put together yet another system. This install wil be my first PCIe mobo, an Intel D915PGN. I am looking on Intel's site for info as I get ready for the items to arrive, and I noticed that they show a couple of things that are different for me.

1. The mobo requires one of the molex connectors in addition to the main and processor power connectors? Does it need to be on it's own lead with noting else on it?

2. The connector on the mobo appears to be 24 pin for power, but the ps has a 20 pin. They show the connector plugged in with open pins on the mobo. I guess that must be right, but it looks odd

Anything else I should be aware of compared to AGP mobos before I get started?

Regards,

Rick

 

[Tiorapatea]

You need to make sure you have a quality power supply. Your type of system has the potential to draw maybe 300W DC but a lot of inferior supplies that are rated higher may not be able to deliver that much power if they get too hot. Also you will want to have maybe 15A of current deliverable on the 12V rail of the psu.

For the graphics card, you will need a twin-molex-to-6-pin PCI express adapter.

When using a 20-pin connector on a 24-pin motherboard, it is correct to just leave a four-pin wide gap on the mobo's connector. No need for an adapter. There should be only one way of connecting it but you should maybe check this.

Edit: the 4-pin molex probably does not have to be on its own lead but this might be preferable if you can configure things this way.

 

[rickshobbies]

My PS is an Antec TruePower 550, so I should be OK. The system will be powering a BFG 6800 Ultra OC and I think the power cable adapter is included (I hope). So, this adapter takes two molex adapters and converts them to a sinle PCIe power adapter? I take it the card does not have the dual molex connectors as on the AGP version then?

So the mobo does use one of the molex connectors too, then? My PS has SATA power connectors, so that will free up at least one power dongle. Any recommendations on how I should allocate these? I will only need one for my DVD Burner, all of the others will be free to power the mobo and PCIe.

 

[Tiorapatea]

Originally posted by: rickshobbies
My PS is an Antec TruePower 550, so I should be OK. The system will be powering a BFG 6800 Ultra OC and I think the power cable adapter is included (I hope). So, this adapter takes two molex adapters and converts them to a sinle PCIe power adapter? I take it the card does not have the dual molex connectors as on the AGP version then?

So the mobo does use one of the molex connectors too, then? My PS has SATA power connectors, so that will free up at least one power dongle. Any recommendations on how I should allocate these? I will only need one for my DVD Burner, all of the others will be free to power the mobo and PCIe.

Good to hear you have the TruePower 550 - I don't know what I was thinking when I made the 15A recommendation for the 12V rail, you will need more and you have more.

You are correct about the twin-molex-to-PCIe adapter. I believe the 6800 Ultras actually have two power connectors because of the high current needed to power them. Thus you will need to use up four molexes for two connectors. The TruePower has a total of seven ordinary molex connectors so even with the DVD, you should not have any problems. The additional connector for the motherboard is a 6-pin connector that should also be included with your TruePower. It probably is not needed because you are powering the graphics card directly from the PSU so the drain on the PCI Express slot will probably be quite small but if you have got it, use it!