Upgrading from 8500GTS

[Kusimeka]

What PSU do you have? This would help figure out your wiring situation.

Just off the top of my head you would probably wire it like so.

PSU -> 6-PIN PCI-E connector -> 6-PIN PCI-E PLUG #1 on HD4870
+
PSU -> MOLEX 4-PIN #1 + MOLEX 4-PIN #2 -> 4-PIN to 6-PIN PCI-E connector - 6-PIN PCI-E PLUG #2 on HD4870

You must ensure that both 6-PIN PCI-E PLUGS on the HD4870 are connected for that card to work...

I have the PSU a guy suggested earlier in the thread : http://www.ebuyer.com/product/124927

i bascialy have two 6 pins as i showed in the photo, however they have 2 white connectors and im not sure if both of those need to be connected or not. Since i find it hard to believe it would need 4 power connectors from the PSU, but it is one powerful card...

 

[nafets]

Hrm. You went from a small decent quality PSU to a big lousy quality PSU. Oh well. Here's a crude drawing of what I'm talking about.

You only need to use one of those (2) MOLEX 4-PIN to (1) PCI-E 6-PIN adapters. Your PSU has a PCI-E 6-PIN wire coming out of it, which goes straight to the HD4870.

A better PSU would usually have two of the PCI-E 6-PIN wires (colored RED in the picture), so you wouldn't have to mess with any adapters or MOLEX wires...

 

[Kusimeka]

Hrm. You went from a small decent quality PSU to a big lousy quality PSU. Oh well. Here's a crude drawing of what I'm talking about.

http://img.techpowerup.org/090817/Clipboard.png

You only need to use one of those (2) MOLEX 4-PIN to (1) PCI-E 6-PIN adapters. Your PSU has a PCI-E 6-PIN wire coming out of it, which goes straight to the HD4870.

A better PSU would usually have two of the PCI-E 6-PIN wires (colored RED in the picture), so you wouldn't have to mess with any adapters or MOLEX wires...

Ohh i see, and im really sad to hear that its a lousy PSU? i thought it was a decent make, i knew it wasnt the best but i thought it was still ok.

So bascialy i would use one of those connectors that came with the GPU? and one from the PSU. That makes sense, one last question so i should connect 2 power cables to the white one as in the picture?

 

[HossHuge]

this is the one you need

 

[mrhuggles]

a GTS 250 512mb 55nm might be ok on that psu [no promises] its basically like an overclocked 8800gt

 

[Kusimeka]

http://www.evga.com/support/faq/files/pcie pwr adapter.jpg

this is the one you need

Thats the one i have my freind, i have two of them that came with the GPU. I'm just wondering if you need to power it with 2 connectors since it has 2 white bits? Since the converter that came with the PSU only requires 1 power connector.

 

[mrhuggles]

im pretty sure it wont matter, im like 99% sure just by the fact that its 350w that it only has 1 12v rail

 

[Kusimeka]

im pretty sure it wont matter, im like 99% sure just by the fact that its 350w that it only has 1 12v rail

I don't have the 350w anymore i have the artic power 700w which i bought with the XFX 4870

 

[nafets]

Arctic Power is certainly not a quality brand name like PCP&C, Corsair, Silverstone, Enermax, etc. But there should hopefully be enough overhead to ensure a mostly stable system. Obviously not everyone has the budget to afford the more expensive units.

Yes use the adapter you have in your hand (in the picture). It's colored purple in the picture I drew. That whole mess will plug into one of the PCI-E plugs on your HD4870. The other plug will be supplied straight from the PSU, via the 6-PIN PCI-E wire...

 

[HossHuge]

The 4870 only has one power connector?

 

[Kusimeka]

Arctic Power is certainly not a quality brand name like PCP&C, Corsair, Silverstone, Enermax, etc. But there should hopefully be enough overhead to ensure a mostly stable system. Obviously not everyone has the budget to afford the more expensive units.

Yes use the adapter you have in your hand (in the picture). It's colored purple in the picture I drew. That whole mess will plug into one of the PCI-E plugs on your HD4870. The other plug will be supplied straight from the PSU, via the 6-PIN PCI-E wire...

Thank you very much my freind, i will give it a shot. Incase i do power it wrong it won't damage the card in anyway will it?

The 4870 only has one power connector?

Nope it requires 2.

 

[HossHuge]

ya that's what I thought. Do what nafets told you. Your friend will enjoy a huge increase in gaming, Have fun!!

 

[nafets]

Well I don't see how you could power it wrong (although I'm sure it's possible). If you don't supply power to both plugs on the HD4870 it'll let you know...

 

[mrhuggles]

youd have to go out of your way to power it wrong

 

[Kusimeka]

Woo, installed it all and it runs great . Fallout 3 finnaly runs without lag, i'm sure my brother will be very pleased. Thanks alot everyone, especialy you Nafets!

 

[mrhuggles]

great, everyone loves a videocard upgrade

 

[goldfries]

Kusimeka, glad to hear that all is working well but you have good gears and IMO you should consider a better PSU.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/awards <=-- for your reference, scroll down to the Power section and check out the various brands and models.