What do they mean when they say that the graphics card requires an external power source.?

Question

Hi
I am looking to buy a new graphics card but am not sure what this external power means.

Answer 1

The graphics GPU draws more power than the motherboard can safely supply without frying. If you're pc's power supply has the connectors for a serial hard drive, it will most likely have the connector (6-pin molex) that will plug into the card and supply power. Otherwise, you'll have to obtain a converter for one of the older-style IDE-type molex connectors - one may already be in the box with the card, you should check.

Also, If you're installing a card with such a high power requirement, you should replace the power supply anyway, I suppose. If you're running the typical pc with every device imaginable connected to it (2CD's 2HDD's, USB devices, heck, even the keyboard and mouse) there's nothing like plenty of electrons to keep all those ports humming.



best luck

Answer 2

Newer high-end graphics cards are so powerful that they actually require their own power connector from the computer's power supply. In the past all graphics cards got all the power they needed from the motherboard.



You need a newer high-end power supply that has a special PCI-e power connector made for these new graphics card. If your power supply is older or it came with the computer it's probably a pretty cheap power supply and may not handle the power demands of that graphics card. Some of the graphics cards come with adapters that you can use on older power supplies that don't have the special plug, but as I said - if it too old, it might not have enough power even with the special adapter.

Answer 3

An external power source means the PCI/AGP/PCIe/PCI-X bus cannot provide enough power for the card directly. A separate cable from the power supply needs to be attached to the card. There is usually a connector near the rear of the card, sometimes a 4-pin Molex connector (standard power connector) and sometimes a special 2x3 connector. The graphics card should come with an adaptor cable in this instance, though most power supplies have one of these connectors and the adaptor cables shouldn't be necessary.

Answer 4

As mentioned, some video cards require more power then the motherboard can supply. They have a jack to plug a connector from the power supply into.

Here's a PCI-Express video card that requires external power:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130071

Check the 4th pic. That's a PCI-Express power connector. Recent power supplies should include one or two of those. For those that don't, a cable comes with this card to use 2 molex connectors instead. (Far right cable in the 6th pic.)



It's been said that some future video cards might actually require a seperate power supply just for the video card.

Answer 5

Whenever you are buying graphics card they usually told you how much power is needed for it. In the past, extra power was not that much of concern becousa they usually don't cost more than hat the motherboard provides. Now as computers get more powerful, as well as power supply, so do the graphics card pwer requirement. Taken for example, a nVidia Geforce 7950 GT needed at least 450 watt of power supply, which means that this card needed direct access to the power supply in your computer to get its power to run the graphics card. And when they say your card requires external power source it simply means that the card needed more power than what your current computer power supply provides. Taken for example, you have a computer which provides 300 watt power and the new graphics card need 350 or above of power, then you need to upgrade your power supply to at least 350 watt(assume fully loaded system)just to run the graphics card. Usually the better mainstream and high end(or above)graphics card neded more than 300 watt, but some companies had somehow reduces their power requirements. SO if you wanna save power and upgrade cost, i suggest that you look for companies that offer low power requirment cards Example, the ASus EAX1650XT silent type doesn't need more power than what is provided by the PCI-e slot.

By the way, those power hungry cards needed a direct cable connected to the power supply...

Answer 6

video cards having external power connectors need this for better performance. other video cards won't even function at all if you don't attach the cable, specially for high end graphics cards. right now you might not experience power issues.i suggest you upgrade your power supply to at least 500w just to be sure :D. generic PSUs(power supply) tends to decrease in wattage the longer you use it or as its temp. gets higher.

Answer 7

it means your computer is not supplying sufficeint electricity to your graphics card. try getting a ground outlet or adjusting the port you insert the card in