Ways to Boost Power to PCI Cards

PCI Express slots require +12 volts of current to power high-end expansion cards. Originally, ATX power supplies and motherboards used a 20-pin main power cable to supply power to the on-board components. The original power supply provided only one +12 volt rail. Newer motherboards and power supplies gradually increased the available +12 volt power connections, due to the changes in the voltage needs of hardware. You must perform some sort of upgrade or modification to your power supply or motherboard to boost the amount of power the PCI Express slots receive.Upgrade the Power SupplyModern ATX power supplies include a 24-pin main power cable that supplies an additional +12 volt line. Upgrading the power supply to a recent model will allow you to utilize your PCI Express slots. Purchasing a power supply that includes a six-pin PCI Express power cable will also allow you to install high-powered graphics cards to your system, assuming your motherboard can run the card.Upgrade Your MotherboardAlthough your power supply might provide an additional +12 volts of power exclusively to your PCI Express adapter, your motherboard might not support high-powered expansion cards, rendering your power supply's additional six-pin PCI Express cables useless.Convert Molex Cables to PCI ExpressYou can use a special adapter to convert two four-pin peripheral power cables (also called Molex cables) to six-pin PCI Express power cables. Converting two available Molex cables to 6-pin power cables will allow you to power PCI Express cards without upgrading your power supply. Plug the adapter into the Molex cables on your power supply, and plug the other end of the adapter to your PCI card. References "A+ Guide to Hardware: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, 5th Edition"; Jean Andrews, Ph.D; 2010 PlayTool: All About the Various PC Power Supply Cables and Connectors Who Can HelpSponsoredFind Computer, Electrical and Telephone Services Here. Compare Up to 4 Quotes, Free Service & No Obligation.printemailfavoriteshareflagPost a CommentWord Verification*
Comment printemailfavoriteshareRelated Ads Related Articles & VideosHow to Boost the Signal on a WiFi PCI CardHow to Upgrade PCI Video Card for HP Xw6200How Do Firewire PCI Cards Work on a Mac?How to Install a PCI Express CardHow to Install a Video Card on Your Desktop Computer Have you done this? I Did This

delivers daily."> eHow EssentialsDressing For Cold Weather Home††Article Sitemap †Sitemap How Tos

Copyright © 1999-2010 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use † and Privacy Policy †. en-US
† requires javascript

Partner Sites AnswerbagLivestrong eHow_eHow Technology and Electronics COMSCORE.beacon({c1:2,c2:6036385,c3:"",c4:"",c5:"",c6:"",c15:""});

 

if (google) {google.load('search', '1'); google.setOnLoadCallback(function() { attachAutoComplete('All-en-US');}); }var attachAutoComplete = function(type) {if (google) {var autoCompleteIds = {'Articles-en-US': '001306696778704498477:clqfwtnu4gw','Videos-en-US': '001306696778704498477:d-ner9pinps','Members-en-US': '','Web-en-US': '001306696778704498477:oqmey3bbw28','Articles-en-GB': '001306696778704498477:e7pcf3zdvr4','Videos-en-GB': '001306696778704498477:vsfounw1igo','All-en-US': '001306696778704498477:folafxbmfpa','All-en-GB': '001306696778704498477:y66jit2rb2c'}if (type == 'Members-en-US') //memebersreturnvar id = autoCompleteIds[type]google.search.CustomSearchControl.attachAutoCompletion( id, $(".Search input:text")[0],'SearchHeader');google.search.CustomSearchControl.attachAutoCompletion( id, $(".Search input:text")[1], 'SearchFooter');}}$('a.jsNoFollow').noFollow();$("div.jsCustomDropDown").attach("DropDown", { selected: $("div.jsCustomDropDown ul li a[name='6']"),onSelect: function(data) {var search = data.parents("div.Search");$("input:text", search).focus().select();$("input.searchType", search).val(data.attr("name"));}});addthis_config = {data_ga_tracker: dlabs.analytics,data_track_linkback: true,data_track_clickback: true,services_exclude: 'facebook,favorites,email,print'};addLoadEvent("http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=dmseo", function(){addthis.init();}, 5);// window.fbAsyncInit = function() {// // };$('.jsVerisignSeal').bind("contextmenu", function(){alert('The VeriSign Seal is a trademark of VeriSign, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Unauthorized copying is prohibited.');return false;});tyntVariables = {"ap":"Read more: "};addLoadEvent('http://tcr.tynt.com/javascripts/Tracer.js?user=bpZvKQBBer360wadbi-bnq&st=1', 10);addLoadEvent(function(){$.getScript(document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js',function(data){if(typeof FB != "undefined") {FB.init({appId: '63203377906', status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: false,channelUrl : (window.location.protocol + '//' + window.location.host + '/xd_receiver.htm')});$('.jsFacebookConnect').css('visibility','visible');FB.XFBML.parse();FB.getLoginStatus(function(response) {if (response.session && dlabs.user.isLoggedIn) {$('.jsFacebookLogout').click(function(){FB.logout(function(response){window.location.reload();return false;});});for (var i = 0; i The email address you use with Facebook is already registered with eHow.

Please login to eHow directly with this email address - you can still use Facebook features.

Ok");ThinBox.remove();ThinBox.open('/account/facebook_merge.aspx?error=duplicate_email&email='+data.split(':')[1]+'&fbid='+response.session.uid);} else {setTimeout("window.location.reload()",1000);}});} }}, {perms:'email,user_interests'});}); }});}});});$('.SecondaryNav ul.main').subNav();$('.PrimaryNav ul.main').subNav();$('.PrimaryNav ul.community').subNav();//$('.jsSearchDropdown').searchDropdown({input:'input.jsDefaultInput', autocomplete: true });addLoadEvent(function(){$("img.LazyLoadImage").lazyImage();});addLoadEvent(function(){SiteLifeAvatars.Request();}, 10);UserAction.execute();