There is a XFX HD4650 AGP with a "normal" 4pin molex power supply. This seems to be better since every PSU has plenty of them.
Why has only this card this solution?

---

Simply put, newer cards need more power! Most new, aftermarket PSU's have the required 6 or 8 pin connectors already present, so for those building a machine, it's not a problem at all.

It's just like every other transition with computers. IDE to SATA, PS2 to USB, floppy to CD to DVD, etc. How many computers do you see with floppy drives anymore?

---

There is a XFX HD4650 AGP with a "normal" 4pin molex power supply. This seems to be better since every PSU has plenty of them.
Why has only this card this solution?

I would assume that the power demands of higher powered cards might start to overload the capacity of the pins/connector design. So they add a couple more pins to cut down the load on each one.
I have had a contact in the main mobo connector burn up once or twice because the current flowing through it was just too much, which resulted in corrosion of the connector and subsequent burnout.

---

"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Like many other things the power connector on the video cards had no standard. Some manufactures used the smaller floppy connector, other used the larger ones like the HD and ODDs use. There is also a limited amount of power the 5v/12v 4 pin connectors are designed for.

So the PCIe power connector was spec'd out around 2004 for:
12v 6 Pin = 75w
12v 8 pin = 150w

---

SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
Join the [url=http://tinyurl.com/8y46zvu]BP6/VP6 User Group[

So they add a couple more pins to cut down the load on each one.

That makes sense. The 4 pin molex has only one 12V pin.

---

So they add a couple more pins to cut down the load on each one.

That makes sense. The 4 pin molex has only one 12V pin.

And a 5v pin(red) too with just 2 grounds(black), 12v(yellow), plus molex is hard to get seated right, though some today aren't all that bad, but that varies all over the place, the newer connectors fixed that.

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

So they add a couple more pins to cut down the load on each one.

That makes sense. The 4 pin molex has only one 12V pin.

If the power requirements for the card are low enough I don't see why they couldn't still use the 4 pin connector. Often the lowest end cards are 20-30w and don't require any extra power form the supply. Then they tend to jump up to 50-80w.

Also if you don't have a PCIe power connector from the supply the PSU may not be able to provide enough current for the card you wish to use. The ATX spec added the PCIe connector and also increased the 12v current.

---

SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
Join the [url=http://tinyurl.com/8y46zvu]BP6/VP6 User Group[

Simply put, newer cards need more power! Most new, aftermarket PSU's have the required 6 or 8 pin connectors already present, so for those building a machine, it's not a problem at all.

It's just like every other transition with computers. IDE to SATA, PS2 to USB, floppy to CD to DVD, etc. How many computers do you see with floppy drives anymore?

I still own several...

---

BOINC WIKI

Simply put, newer cards need more power! Most new, aftermarket PSU's have the required 6 or 8 pin connectors already present, so for those building a machine, it's not a problem at all.

It's just like every other transition with computers. IDE to SATA, PS2 to USB, floppy to CD to DVD, etc. How many computers do you see with floppy drives anymore?

I still own several...

I own a few floppy drives, 2-3.5" DSHD 1.44MB(1-FDD & 1-USB) and 1-5.25" SSSD 180K...

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Better question, how many NEW computers do you see with floppy drives, and when was the last time you used a floppy disk?

---

Better question, how many NEW computers do you see with floppy drives, and when was the last time you used a floppy disk?

None, better question, how many new motherboards come with an ide port? None.

The 5.25" 180K floppy drive(known as an Indus GT, It's almost a self contained computer in itself) is an antique and a special one at that, but then It's not a PC drive, It's for an Atari 8bit 1200XL computer that I have, the 1200XL is a rare computer, but then only 100,000 were ever made in 1982, now there are less, maybe 110-150 or so left on earth and yes I know how to use It, most here would need to be taught on how to use It, not Me.

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I have a cool combo floppy drive. Occupies a 5-1/4 bay, but it has both 3.5 and 5-1/4 in it. Needs the old school huge floppy connector. Last time I had one in a machine, 2000 was the most recent OS that would even detect it. XP wouldn't.

But yeah, basically.. 4-pin has gone away because newer cards need more power than the 4-pin can provide (two 12V, two grounds). Besides, the way the connectors are designed, if you have a modern PSU that only has 6/8, you can still plug it in (provided there's not some huge plastic casing on the card which would keep you from plugging in the 4 necessary pins).

The 8-pin CPU power connector, I've plugged one of those into a board that only had a 4-pin and it worked fine. 24-pin ATX connector goes into most 20-pin boards just fine (as long as there's not a capacitor directly next to the socket).

---

Linux laptop:
record uptime: 1511d 20h 19m (ended due to the power brick giving-up)

not to get off topic but I installed a new Biostar 990 Mobo in anticipation of getting a fx-8150. the first thing I noticed was the board not only had the 24 pin and 8 pin connectors it also had a standard 4 pin attachment on the board. I assume the board is going to use more power... GPU's are now using 6 or 8 pin connections or both. I can only assume the next step is for Mobo's to have new 12 pin connector if they are needing the additional 4 pin now.

---

In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

Better question, how many NEW computers do you see with floppy drives, and when was the last time you used a floppy disk?

I use floppies almost every single day at work. To load Ghost and reimage machines for testing. Then we have USB floppy drives for the newer machines that don't have floppies or floppy drive controllers on the board. Floppies are preferable for what we do as they are easier to change than redoing CD images.

---

SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
Join the [url=http://tinyurl.com/8y46zvu]BP6/VP6 User Group[

not to get off topic but I installed a new Biostar 990 Mobo in anticipation of getting a fx-8150. the first thing I noticed was the board not only had the 24 pin and 8 pin connectors it also had a standard 4 pin attachment on the board. I assume the board is going to use more power... GPU's are now using 6 or 8 pin connections or both. I can only assume the next step is for Mobo's to have new 12 pin connector if they are needing the additional 4 pin now.

My assumption is that eventually all the power to the motherboard, and all other components, will be 12V, with voltage regulators on the motherboard for 5V and 3.3V if needed.
This will actually simplify motherboard design and make psu's cheaper.

edit addition]If the 12V limit was relaxed to 12.2V +/-2V then the computer could be powered by a 12V battery. Doing this could also make UPS's obselete, by installing a suitable battery inside the case. Allowing you to choose the battery capacity based on computer consumption etc.

Oops, I think I mis-read or mis-interpreted the original question. I thought we were talking about 4-pin pci-e connectors.. not the legacy device molex ones used for HDDs and ODDs before SATA came along.

In that case, yeah, that's probably about the only option you have. I have a 6600GT that has a legacy molex on it, and my mobo has a legacy molex right next to the x16 slot as well. The owners manual says that the socket won't work unless you have power plugged into it, but I don't have power plugged into it and my 8800GT is working just fine. *shrug*

edit: come to think of it.. I don't think there ever were 4-pin pci-e connectors. I give up.

---

Linux laptop:
record uptime: 1511d 20h 19m (ended due to the power brick giving-up)

Oops, I think I mis-read or mis-interpreted the original question. I thought we were talking about 4-pin pci-e connectors.. not the legacy device molex ones used for HDDs and ODDs before SATA came along.

In that case, yeah, that's probably about the only option you have. I have a 6600GT that has a legacy molex on it, and my mobo has a legacy molex right next to the x16 slot as well. The owners manual says that the socket won't work unless you have power plugged into it, but I don't have power plugged into it and my 8800GT is working just fine. *shrug*

edit: come to think of it.. I don't think there ever were 4-pin pci-e connectors. I give up.

Yep, Yer right, the 4pin pci-e connectors never existed, yer immagination is working overtime. ;)

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I'm betting that his 8800 is working without the additional plugin because that card just doesn't draw all that much power.

---

In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

I'm betting that his 8800 is working without the additional plugin because that card just doesn't draw all that much power.

The 8800 GT has its own 6pin connector, so enough juice from there. The question is would it still work without the 6pin but with the 4pin (near PCIe)on the board plugged in?

---

I'm betting that his 8800 is working without the additional plugin because that card just doesn't draw all that much power.

The 8800 GT has its own 6pin connector, so enough juice from there. The question is would it still work without the 6pin but with the 4pin (near PCIe)on the board plugged in?

I just did some playing with my HD 3850. Without the PCIe connector it works, but as soon as you do anything demanding a great deal of 3D grunt the system poops out. Due to lack of power to the board.

---

SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
Join the [url=http://tinyurl.com/8y46zvu]BP6/VP6 User Group[