Need Advice: EVGA 7600GS or XFX 7600GT?

**jankren** · June 18, 2007, 06:26 PM

EVGA 256-A8-N542-T2 GeForce 7600GS 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X Video Card ($109)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130076

XFX PVT73AUDF3 GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card ($139)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150233

I need advice from computer experts on this forum as to which one of the above graphic cards is the most compatible with my relatively old HP Pavilion a520n?

By the way, what is 4-bit molex connector?

**mrmouth** · June 18, 2007, 08:52 PM

I think you started a thread about this awhile back and you never returned.

If those are the models you want then the XFX looks better as it has ddr3 vram. Problem is if they need to be plugged into a power supply your stock power supply might not give you that option, which is Im guessing where the 4 pin molex comes in.

Also those cards might pull to many amps. I'm having a problem finding any info about the power supply with that system, or I'm missing it.

Molex four-pin power connector that's used with most devices such as your optical drives and hard disk drives. It's also used with some high-end graphics cards, Firewire cards and case fans.

Here is a pic:
http://pinouts.ru/connector/4_pin_Mo...onnector.shtml

Heres something else I found that might help in the future:

http://www.simpletech.com/upgrades/h...athlonxp22ghz/

**jankren** · June 18, 2007, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by BarnabyJones

If those are the models you want then the XFX looks better as it has ddr3 vram. Problem is if they need to be plugged into a power supply your stock power supply might not give you that option, which is Im guessing where the 4 pin molex comes in.

Also those cards might pull to many amps. I'm having a problem finding any info about the power supply with that system, or I'm missing it.

How do I find out if my PC has the connector for that Molex thingy? Is there supposed to be a dangling unused connector in my computer or an empty 4-pin socket? And where is this socket located so I could check it?

Edit: I just noticed that the 7600GT does not have VGA slot so I dont think there is anyway I could plug my CRT monitor into any of those green DVI slots, could I?

(My low technological knowledge is driving me into madness ...)

**Erik** · June 19, 2007, 09:10 AM

I would definitely go for the GT, because a GT is whole lot faster than a GS and you need at least a reasonably fast card to play todays games.

Even the 7600 GT is barely fast enough, so if you have the money you might want to consider a 7900.

Originally Posted by jankren

How do I find out if my PC has the connector for that Molex thingy? Is there supposed to be a dangling unused connector in my computer

Yes, there are most likely several unused 4-pin molex connectors dangling from your power supply.
They are used to power a wide range of components, so power supply makers usually provide a whole bunch of them.

Edit: I just noticed that the 7600GT does not have VGA slot so I dont think there is anyway I could plug my CRT monitor into any of those green DVI slots, could I?

Don't worry, it comes with a DVI to VGA/D-sub adapter (says so under specification -> packaging -> package contents)

**mrmouth** · June 19, 2007, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Erik

Yes, there are most likely several unused 4-pin molex connectors dangling from your power supply.

It would all depend on the year his HP was manufactured. Older HP's, Dells, etc. are almost always proprietary. If it was manufactured before '02 he might be in trouble. He could always splice the molex into existing wires but then Im wondering if his PSU even pushes enough power for these cards. From the little I have been able to find out its most likely a 200-250w PSU.

**jankren** · June 19, 2007, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by BarnabyJones

It would all depend on the year his HP was manufactured. Older HP's, Dells, etc. are almost always proprietary. If it was manufactured before '02 he might be in trouble. He could always splice the molex into existing wires but then Im wondering if his PSU even pushes enough power for these cards. From the little I have been able to find out its most likely a 200-250w PSU.

My HP was manufactured in 2004. And as for the power supply after opening the case I found out that its max output is 280W. Oh yeah and I also found only 1 dangling unused 4-pin connector. There are two more that are way smaller.

So what am I supposed to do?

**spartan_phalanx** · June 18, 2007, 08:58 PM

The 4 pin connector can be seen in the additional images of both those cards. Furthermore if you take a look at some power suplly images you can see what the connector from them looks like.

Newer graphics cards need more power than what the motherboard alone supplies, thus the extra connector(s). For example the 8800 GTX needs two 6 pin connectors.

As for which one of those two cards, I would say the 7600GT.

**mrmouth** · June 19, 2007, 01:12 AM

It really all depends if HP uses proprietary parts, or that are custom to HP's. Most times Dells, Gateways and HP's are proprietary and their power supply's arent wired to take into account video card and other upgrades.

Open your case and see if there are any open connections I guess. I'm having a hell of a time finding any info on your power supply.

There are adapters for a DVI to VGA application, but your looking at another $30-40 for a good one and to be honest I don't know much about them.

**Doono** · June 19, 2007, 08:46 AM

The DVI : VGA connector is normally bundled in with the graphics card so i wouldn't worry about that

**jankren** · June 20, 2007, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by BarnabyJones

Well unfortunately I don't think that power supply will be able to run either card. The 7600 GT needs 18-22A on the 12 volt rail. Look on the side of your power supply and locate the 12V column, it should list the rating. If its anywhere near 20A you might be able to get away with it.

What video card are you running now?

I have a Geforce FX5500 that cant even run EUIII.

But anyway I have decided to get a eVGA e-Geforce 6200LE which is apparently the best GFX I could get for my crappy low-powered computer. So thank you so much for all your helpful advices. Without you maybe I would have wasted my money on Geforce 7600 Series which definitely wouldnt work on my computer.

Peace,

**Erik** · June 20, 2007, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by jankren

I have a Geforce FX5500 that cant even run EUIII.

But anyway I have decided to get a eVGA e-Geforce 6200LE which is apparently the best GFX I could get for my crappy low-powered computer.

That's hardly an upgrade.
I'm not even sure if a 6200LE is faster than a FX5500.

Why not buy a new power supply?

**jankren** · June 20, 2007, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Erik

That's hardly an upgrade.
I'm not even sure if a 6200LE is faster than a FX5500.

Why not buy a new power supply?

The thing is I dont even know how to set up a new power supply

. I guess Im just gonna buy a new PC next year maybe.

**mrmouth** · June 20, 2007, 12:03 PM

The only thing holding you back is your power supply, your PC isn't all that bad. Of course you could use a new PC, so could I, but if your playing MTW2 and similar games a new video card and perhaps more memory will go a long way to improving your gaming experience.

There are a good amount of power supply options for your PC and they are not that expensive at all.

Its fairly simple to hook up a new PSU. There are plenty of online guides that will take you through the steps. If you or a family member has another internet ready PC that you can use while installing the new power supply, thats all you need. Or even just printing out a guide before hand. Just the manual it comes with should be enough though.

It can be intimidating at first when you open up your PC and look inside, but its really very simple stuff.

**Doono** · June 20, 2007, 12:33 PM

They arnt that tough to install, unplug all the cables from your other hardware, unscrew and remove, now just do the opposite and you have installed a new psu.

The only slightly scary part is installign the 28pin motherboard cable since they are very tight and it looks like your going to snap your board but that shouldn't happen PCB's are very tough but flexible.

**boboftl** · June 20, 2007, 08:24 PM

I just put in a 7600GT in my HP pc and it worked fine, no need for 4 pin molex for power.

**jankren** · June 20, 2007, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by boboftl

I just put in a 7600GT in my HP pc and it worked fine, no need for 4 pin molex for power.

whats your PC's power supply?

**boboftl** · June 20, 2007, 09:54 PM

300 Watt that came with the PC. The PSU has 19A on the 12V line.

**jankren** · June 20, 2007, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by boboftl

300 Watt that came with the PC. The PSU has 19A on the 12V line.

How much Watt the card actually need?

By the way can someone explain whats the purpose of the 4-pin Molex thingy if the card could work fine without it?

**Doono** · June 21, 2007, 02:32 AM

Depends on the card you get, if they come overclocked they can need more power than they can draw from the mobo so thats why they use the 4pin molex or it uses a much larger cooling solution it may need the 4pin molex anyway.

My 7600GT didn't need one either.