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Power Supply Question

F

Flightsim

Member
I'm about to upgrade from an AGP video card to PCI-express video card. I still want to use my old PSU, but I don't know if the requirements have changed for the newer PCI-express video cards. Do I need a new PSU with certain types of connectors/cables or will my old PSU still work?
 
does your motherboard support AGP and PCI express?

it really depends which PSU you have, which video card you're buying.

your old PSU should work, but it's always good to get a quality PSU

 
Most PCI-Express cards that use the new PCI-Express-specific power connector come with an adapter to use a standard Molex connector.

Whether your power supply can actually do the job is another matter entirely.
 
The most powerful graphics card you can use without getting a new PSU, I would say, is the ATi Radeon X800 XL. It takes its power directly from the PCIe x16 socket.
 
My motherboard does not support both AGP and PCI express. I am also getting a new motherboard to go along with the PCI express video card. My old PSU is a 450W model from Enermax. It was used with an AGP video card and P4 processor.
After looking at motherboard options, it seems the newer ones require a 24 pin connection as opposed to the older 20 pin connection which is on my current PSU. You can buy an adapter to change the 20 pin into a 24 pin connector right? Also, do the PCI express video cards need special connectors?
 
There are so many intangibles to consider when you upgrade from one system to another. Especially when upgrading.
You could do better by looking at the computer builds on AT from the inexpensive to the moderate range at the onset.
If you were one of my clients I would recommend a system after finding out what you need.
Some items you might recycle, but newer hardware may be the better choice. Check AT's threads for frequent new builds.

Here a link that give you ideas for your next build.
http://sysbuild.corsairmemory.com/report.aspx?id=2.


Good building.......

 
using adapters for both the motherboard and the vid card with an Enermax 450w? Specific class/models of hardware? Anything high-end, you're lookin for trouble.
 
Originally posted by: Flightsim
My motherboard does not support both AGP and PCI express. I am also getting a new motherboard to go along with the PCI express video card. My old PSU is a 450W model from Enermax. It was used with an AGP video card and P4 processor.
After looking at motherboard options, it seems the newer ones require a 24 pin connection as opposed to the older 20 pin connection which is on my current PSU. You can buy an adapter to change the 20 pin into a 24 pin connector right? Also, do the PCI express video cards need special connectors?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily.

Most boards function perfectly fine with only 20 of the 24-pins installed. I even picked up an eMachine for my in-laws that was BUILT that way (20-pin Bestec PSU plugged into a 24-pin FIC board.)

My main concen would be if the PSU has enough juice on the 12V rail to handle the new video card AND everything else.

My suggestion would be to check this thread out: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1815673&enterthread=y
 
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