Power connector on Geforce 6600GT AGP

[91TTZ]

I bought an XFX Geforce 6600GT with an AGP interface. The card has the power connector on it. I read the manual and it says "for best video quality, plug the external power source" in or something to that effect.

I don't have a free power cable so I started the machine without the external power plug being plugged into it.

Works fine. I can play games and it seems to be stable.

What is the benefit to plugging in that cable if it already works without a problem? I've heard a few rumors that the card won't run full speed without the external power, but I have not been able to find one shred of evidence to support this. Is this a baseless rumor? If not, does anyone have a link stating this to be a fact?

Thanks.

 

[cbehnken]

For one thing it'll be really hard on your AGP slot. More current than it is designed to handle may pass through it.

I'd suggest getting a y-splitter right away.

 

[Rage187]

they just do it for no reason.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Rage187
they just do it for no reason.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

I figured that you're right and they did it for no reason, so I just took a pair of pliers and removed it from my board. There were also a lot of little capacitors and things which I saw no point in being there, so I removed them, too.

Unfortunately the board turned out to be unstable so I RMA'd it.


Thanks again.

 

[imported_tss4]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Rage187
they just do it for no reason.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

I figured that you're right and they did it for no reason, so I just took a pair of pliers and removed it from my board. There were also a lot of little capacitors and things which I saw no point in being there, so I removed them, too.

Unfortunately the board turned out to be unstable so I RMA'd it.


Thanks again.

very funny

 

[Yossairian]

You may not have pushed it enough to cause a problem yet. I have the same card, and I ran it without the extra plug due to absentminded-ness. It booted and ran 2d apps fine. Loaded and played original UT no problems. Once I tried to run 3dmark 05 to bench, the computer would reboot. Long story short.. plugged the power connector in and the card has been working fine ever since.

 

[Fenuxx]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Rage187
they just do it for no reason.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

I figured that you're right and they did it for no reason, so I just took a pair of pliers and removed it from my board. There were also a lot of little capacitors and things which I saw no point in being there, so I removed them, too.

Unfortunately the board turned out to be unstable so I RMA'd it.


Thanks again.

That's funny, I don't care who ya are!

GIT 'R DONE!!!

 

[SX2012]

your card will underclock to a 300core(from 500) without external power from molex

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Yossairian
You may not have pushed it enough to cause a problem yet. I have the same card, and I ran it without the extra plug due to absentminded-ness. It booted and ran 2d apps fine. Loaded and played original UT no problems. Once I tried to run 3dmark 05 to bench, the computer would reboot. Long story short.. plugged the power connector in and the card has been working fine ever since.

Yes, I found the same thing. Played C&C Generals fine, but crashed instantly in 3dmark. I plugged the card in and it's all smooth now.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: SX2012
your card will underclock to a 300core(from 500) without external power from molex

I noticed that in Windows it's always at 300 core, plugged in or not. But when I play a game the clock speeds up to 500 mhz.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: SX2012
your card will underclock to a 300core(from 500) without external power from molex

I noticed that in Windows it's always at 300 core, plugged in or not. But when I play a game the clock speeds up to 500 mhz.

Normal behaviour. Why have it run at redline when it doesn't need to?

- M4H