I bought a new computer case and I want to use my mobo from my current pc. Gateway DX4870-ub318. I can't tell which pins to use for the power.

SOURCE: HELP NEEDED BUILDING CUSTOM STUDIO PC FROM SCRATCH

Whatever parts you're going to get now it will be obsolete in 4 years and useless in 8 (unless of course you plan to keep all the software as is, without any updates). On the present parts:you will need to upgrade the memory very soon,  the hard disks are ridiculously small - 2 of 1TB is the minimum, the video card is way to feeble (i know that personally, i own one) - you need one at least from the 4xx gen if you don't want to replace it next year and the Windows is the wrong type - 64bit is the future.

joecoolvette

• 5660 Answers
• Posted on Sep 01, 2012

SOURCE: Will this graphics card work with my computer?

1) HP xw6200 Workstation desktop computer,

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11975_div/11975_div.HTML

Power Supply: Maximum rated Wattage - 500 Watts.

XFX ATI Radeon HD5750 graphics card,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2GB-ATI-Radeon-HD-5750-1GB-HDMI-1080p-BluRay-EyeFinity-Gaming-Graphics-Card-/120973408169?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item1c2a93b7a9&_uhb=1#ht_4735wt_1080

Yes.


1) Install the software F-I-R-S-T, then physically install the graphics card.
Windows running, put the Installation disk that comes with the graphics card, into the CD/DVD drive.
Load all software. The drivers, and Catalyst Control Panel.

Windows will NOT use the software until the graphics card is installed, so don't worry about not having graphics in the meantime.

2) Computer unplugged from power FOLLOW Anti-Static Precautions.

Anti-Static Precautions:
Your body carries Static electricity. Static WILL fry out (Short Circuit), the delicate hardware components inside a computer.

Relieve your body of Static BEFORE reaching inside your computer, AND before removing any parts out of their anti-static bags, or cartons.

Computer on a table, computer unplugged from power, computer case open;
TOUCH an unpainted surface, of the metal frame of the open computer case.
This action will relieve your body of Static.

IF you leave your computer in the middle of working on it, be SURE to Touch the metal frame again upon your return.

3) Physically install the graphics card.
(The Lock Lever on the PCI-Express x16 slot, goes UP to install a graphics card, or to remove a graphics card. It looks as though you should push down on it)

http://www.txcesssurplus.com/servlet/the-9225/HP-408544-dsh-001-xw6200-WorkStation/Detail

Looking at the black PCI-Express x16 slot, with it's green Lock Lever, it looks as though there should be room for the graphics card.

Looking to the right of the green Lock Lever, look at the 4 gold colored Choke Coils. It may be tight, but the graphics card should clear the first two.

Areas of concern, though;

1) Power Supply:
The XFX Radeon HD5750 graphics card, requires a minimum of a 400 Watt Power Supply.

The graphics card doesn't use 400 Watts, of course. This is the minimum power requirement by the graphics card manufacturer, and based on the power the card needs, and the rest of the computer.

XFX, just like all graphics card manufacturers, uses a computer system set up to the maximum, for a test unit.

Gamer style motherboard.
Powerful Processor, that is probably a dual core, or quad core.
Maximum amount of ram memory.
Two optical drives
Two or more computer case fans.
Two or more harddrives.

You get the picture.

Power consumption has to be based upon what each individual hardware component will use, AND the graphics card.

Power Supply:
Problem is, the computer has some age on it. From searching it seems to have been made in 2004. Makes it 8 years old now.
Makes that Power Supply 8 years old now too.

A) Pre-built computer manufacturers, such as HP, Gateway, Lenovo, Toshiba, etc., have their components made by someone else.
The Power Supply is one such component.

Usually a generic Power Supply manufacturer, such as Bestec, or HiPro, or Delta, for HP computers.
Low quality electronic components are used in these power supply's.

Isn't a big deal usually, until you start to tax the limit on the Power Supply, such as installing a powerful graphics card.

Power Supply manufacturers also had a great tendency, to overate their Power Supply's back in the day. Made the Power Supply sell better, 'fudging' the actual Wattage rating.

Wattage was actually more like 60 to 70 percent, of what was stated.
300 Watts (60 percent) to 350 Watts (70 percent) is more actual.

The XFX ATI Radeon HD5750 also requires a 6-pin PCI-Express power cable, coming from the Power Supply, and connected to it.

The maximum amount of Wattage a PCI-Express x16 slot can deliver, is 75 Watts.
The 6-pin PCI-Express power cable delivers an additional 75 Watts,

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#pciexpress

"This cable is used to provide extra 12 volt power to PCI Express expansion cards.
PCI Express motherboard slots can provide a maximum of 75 watts.

Many video cards draw significantly more than 75 watts, so the 6 pin PCI Express power cable was created.
These high-power cards draw most of their power from the 12 volt rail so this cable provides only 12 volts."

(Yellow wires are 12 Volt wires. Red wires are 5 Volt wires, Orange wires are 3.3 Volts. All are DC voltage. Black wires are Ground wires)

Will your Power Supply have a 6-pin PCI-Express power cable?
I doubt it.
In the Playtool link, see the 6-pin PCI-Express adapter power cable, shown on the right?

Takes TWO 4-pin Peripheral power cables,
(Commonly misnomered as a 'Molex' power cable),

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#peripheral

If you are going to use one of these power adapter cables, you NEED TWO 4-pin Peripheral power cables!

HAS to have TWO Yellow 12 Volt wires going to it.

Will using a 6-pin PCI-Express adapter power cable, and One 4-pin Peripheral power cable work?
Most of the time yes.

PROBLEM is,
Over time the;

1) PCI-Express x16 slot contact pins -> BURN

2) Gold plated contact pins on the bottom of the graphics card -> BURNS

3) Connection on graphics card for the 6-pin PCI-Express power cable - BURNS

4) 6-pin PCI-Express power cable's connector -> BURNS

No if's, and's, or but's; it WILL happen.
Result is usually throw the motherboard away, and the graphics card.

So you may be looking at getting a better Power Supply.
Here is one example that will work,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=899124&CatId=1483

A) 600 Watts. Gives you an additional 100 Watts of power. Less strain on the Power Supply.

B) 120mm fan. A larger fan turns slower, therefore makes less noise.
Puts out more air flow than an 80mm fan, even though it turns slower.

C) Has all the power cables required, plus more.

D) Has TWO 12 Volt power rails.
12 Volt 1 is capable of 23 Amp's.
12 Volt 2 is capable of 20 Amp's.
Total combined Amperage for the two 12 volt power rails is 43 Amp's.


http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c01463539

http://h20464.www2.hp.com/media/278E215F-8E76-416C-BBE2-32F7B25FB1A1/xw62_FRU_video_powersupply.htm

Gamer computer?
Not IMHO. Uses ECC ram memory.

That is Error Correcting Control ram memory. The ram memory runs the data through it twice, in order to make sure everything is correct, before using the data.
This is the type of ram memory a Server computer uses.

Could be wrong, and it could be used as a gamer computer, though. We will see when you are done, IF this is the intent.

[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECC_memory

Reasons for not using ECC:
"A performance decrease of around 2-3 percent, depending on application, due to the additional time needed for ECC memory controllers to perform error checking;"

Regards,
joecoolvette