Plugging in graphics card while computer is on?

[DaMulta]

I never said it was stupid

one of PCi s design points was to be able to do this. AKA one Reason is some machines are NEVER turned off, and if they were they might not come back up.

 

[angelkiller]

I never said it was stupid

one of PCi s design points was to be able to do this. AKA one Reason is some machines are NEVER turned off, and if they were they might not come back up.

This is an intentional feature of PCI-E? Really? (very curious)

 

[DaMulta]

just typed it into Google yep it is

PCI-SIG - FAQ - PCI Express
A1: PCI Express architecture is an industry standard high-performance, ... Support for new and innovative, hot-plug/hot-swap add-in card and module devices

http://www.pcisig.com/news_room/faqs/faq_express/

 

[95Viper]

I never said it was stupid

one of PCi s design points was to be able to do this. AKA one Reason is some machines are NEVER turned off, and if they were they might not come back up.

This is an intentional feature of PCI-E? Really? (very curious)

PCI Express® Architecture Frequently Asked Questions

Quotes from web page:

"Support for new and innovative, hot-plug/hot-swap add-in card and module devices"

"Q7: How does ExpressModule improve the way Servers and Workstations are built and serviced?"
"A7: The ExpressModule form factor provides Servers and Workstations with a modular I/O adapter that is closed chassis hot-pluggable. The design of ExpressModule frees the I/O adapter from direct connection to the system board, thus allowing greater flexibility in system design. Server I/O Modules can be placed in the front or back of system, vertical or horizontal, or above system I/O board. The Server I/O Modules flow-through cooling model increases system venting while providing adapter developers a know airflow scheme, thus improving reliability for both adapters and systems. The standard management features promotes remote service while the modular enclosure enables customer service and upgrades."

The system has to be designed for this capability from the start, I may be wrong, but I don't believe most consumer MB PCI-e sub-systems are.

 

[DaMulta]

I think it's a simple standard that flows over all boards. Now if you looked up pci-x it could be different. Seeing that is more sever integrated so to say.

 

[hat]

PEOPLE in this thread need to grow some balls lol

What is there to be had? There is no gain, except the knowledge that you installed a graphics card in an unorthadox meathod, and fears that there might be some very strange quirkiness down the road even if it played out normally at first.

 

[DaMulta]

now plugging in wires while your machine can be dangerous. all it takes is it to me a little misleading and a spark can happen. This is why you need to be fast like a ninja if your hot-swaping a hdd or dvd player....unless your using sata power wire which was made for that.

 

[Arrakis9]

now plugging in wires while your machine can be dangerous. all it takes is it to me a little misleading and a spark can happen. This is why you need to be fast like a ninja if your hot-swaping a hdd or dvd player....unless your using sata power wire which was made for that.

honestly i hot swap hard drives (ide & sata) all day long at work when i virus scan customers computers. its not as dangerous as you'd think as long as your careful and not plugging it in backwards of course the worst that would happen is you can ground a pin thats not suppose to be grounded and the psu shorts. most modern decent psu's have protection against grounding and work just fine after a falt like that.

 

[Steevo]

He probably has plug and play OS turned OFF in the BIOS, thus the new card would not be assigned any IRQ, or memory addresses by windows, as the BIOS never reported it. I have done HDD's, floppys, CD drives, old modems, and a few other items and never had a death, but I have not tried a GPU. I have had a user pull a low profile card out while in use, it cooked the card.

 

[pantherx12]

There are actually people suggesting someone DO this? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Seriously. Think of how much power modern video cards use. Think of a new device suddenly asking for that power out of the blue. Now imagine the power suddenly shooting through some pins when other pins aren't connected yet because you didn't seat it 100%.

The power gets distributed through a few anyway I think, so this wouldn't happen.



In regards to DaMulta's post, I'm surprised people never clocked on that's what the "express" bit is for

I've never done it with a main card just out of habit, but I poped my 3850/3870 out once at a time fairly often

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I highly value my life and the stuff I spend my money on. As such, I turn off the pc, flip the psu switch and press the start button to discharge the capacitors before doing anything involving my limbs and the inside of a pc. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

 

[mdsx1950]

Interesting thread. Someone with a 250W PSU should try doing that with an ASUS ARES or GTX 480. Now THAT would be cool.

 

[heky]

mdsx1950

lol

 

[Steve-007UK]

I know a few people who do silly things like this, then they always moan at me because one of there dvd drives or graphics cards no longer works.

Now while it might be possible to add things to the pc when its turned on, I for one would just not risk it, If your rich and can afford to replace stuff then go for it but i think its a bad idea.

 

[filip007]

Older graphics used protection if not plugged in it don't even start, at lest Radeon. I definitely will not try that with Geforce that are usually not build to last.

 

[_JP_]

Interesting thread. Someone with a 250W PSU should try doing that with an ASUS ARES or GTX 480. Now THAT would be cool.

I have a 250W PSU! Quick, send me the ARES and I'll make the experience!
Oh wait, it's an old P3 type PSU...damn...so close...
But can try with a Incredi-cheap Halfmann 28.5€ 700W PSU or a 2HIX 500W, or any up to 20~30€ PSU that can support a PCI-e board.
Guess what's left for me is too agree with all the others that stated that this was a stupid thing to do and just because you can doesn't mean you should unless your pockets go deep, you have no value for money and you like to pick fights with hobos, for the lulz.
Also, PICS/VIDEOS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!

 

[<<Onafets>>]

Performance boost* so immense that it would destroy the world in a matter of seconds.

*Only works with NVidia Cards, Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[mdsx1950]

mdsx1950

lol

I have a 250W PSU! Quick, send me the ARES and I'll make the experience!
Oh wait, it's an old P3 type PSU...damn...so close...
But can try with a Incredi-cheap Halfmann 28.5€ 700W PSU or a 2HIX 500W, or any up to 20~30€ PSU that can support a PCI-e board.
Guess what's left for me is too agree with all the others that stated that this was a stupid thing to do and just because you can doesn't mean you should unless your pockets go deep, you have no value for money and you like to pick fights with hobos, for the lulz.
Also, PICS/VIDEOS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!

Is that directed to me?

 

[_JP_]

Is that directed to me?

Uh, what?...No!
No, no...it was meant for mr. runevirage and his ballz of steel.
Questionable ballz by now, since he did not either state what card did he used to preform such experience or posted pics/vids.
But you've opened my eyes and I should makes some changes to what I've said, since now I see it did not reflect entirely my point of view:

just because you can do senseless/possibly destructive/unnecessary/"for the kick of it" stuff doesn't mean you should unless your pockets go deep, you have no value for money (...)

 

[mdsx1950]

Uh, what?...No!
No, no...it was meant for mr. runevirage and his ballz of steel.
Questionable ballz by now, since he did not either state what card did he used to preform such experience or posted pics/vids.
But you've opened my eyes and I should makes some changes to what I've said, since now I see it did not reflect entirely my point of view:

Oh ok cool.

 

[uss ducky]

I'm going to necrobump this to add to the conversation and warn others.

I accidentally plugged my R9 390 in while my pc was on. It was dark-ish. My pc is silent. Didn't notice the fan. UGH. Anyways, plugged it in, there was a little spark at the front of my PCI-E 3.0 x16 port, and the 390 no longer is recognised in BIOS in any computer. Fans ramp up to 100%, so the leads are still working, but I'm assuming something inside the card is now toast.

DON'T DO THIS. PAY ATTENTION. Sad face.

 

[95Viper]

Welcome to TPU.
Sorry on the demise of your card...
hope the MB is alright.

 

[Frick]

I'm going to necrobump this to add to the conversation and warn others.

I accidentally plugged my R9 390 in while my pc was on. It was dark-ish. My pc is silent. Didn't notice the fan. UGH. Anyways, plugged it in, there was a little spark at the front of my PCI-E 3.0 x16 port, and the 390 no longer is recognised in BIOS in any computer. Fans ramp up to 100%, so the leads are still working, but I'm assuming something inside the card is now toast.

DON'T DO THIS. PAY ATTENTION. Sad face.

Excellent first post.

 

[Aquinus]

I'm going to necrobump this to add to the conversation and warn others.

I accidentally plugged my R9 390 in while my pc was on. It was dark-ish. My pc is silent. Didn't notice the fan. UGH. Anyways, plugged it in, there was a little spark at the front of my PCI-E 3.0 x16 port, and the 390 no longer is recognised in BIOS in any computer. Fans ramp up to 100%, so the leads are still working, but I'm assuming something inside the card is now toast.

DON'T DO THIS. PAY ATTENTION. Sad face.

PCI-E does support hot-swapping but, not with normal full slot cards by normal spec. Only special PCI-E implementations actually supports hot swapping PCI-E devices like ExpressBus and mobile PCI-E modules reliably.

Not that I want to be posting on a 5 year old thread but, PCI-E does support hot swapping, it's just that most normal implementations don't actually do it as it's not required by spec but there is spec to support doing it.

 

[uss ducky]

Welcome to TPU.
Sorry on the demise of your card...
hope the MB is alright.

Thanks! And... thanks... Mobo is fine luckily. I was really worried I fried the PCI-e slot, but I've got the Fury X plugged in currently, so it all seems good.

Excellent first post.

Yeah, I was searching for this issue to see if someone was able to fix the problem. The other guy from 5 years ago seems to have been able to get out lucky, but alas. Not me.

PCI-E does support hot-swapping but, not with normal full slot cards by normal spec. Only special PCI-E implementations actually supports hot swapping PCI-E devices like ExpressBus and mobile PCI-E modules reliably.

Not that I want to be posting on a 5 year old thread but, PCI-E does support hot swapping, it's just that most normal implementations don't actually do it as it's not required by spec but there is spec to support doing it.

Yeah, I've read about hot-swapping, but this is obviously not what I was trying to do. Even if the slot did support it, would that be the same for the card, or would both devices need to support it? I feel like the card might have still died.