How to install my RX 480?

[Funadddelic]

I just bought it but I need some help on how to put it on motherboard, I know that I need to remove my old graphic card and put it on PCI-E 16, but I got this card with some pin connectors, looks like, and I dont know what do I need to do with this and do I even need to have them installed at all or? On one side, this pin has 8 entrances, and on the other side, there are 2 pins that are separated and each has 6 entrances, 12 in total, I dont understand what is this and can somebody help me please, thanks

 

[DSzymborski]

The graphics card you chosen (which one? the more info we have, the better) has supplemental power connectors, meaning that it's powerful enough that it can't just be powered from the PCIe slot. GPUs like this have a power supply requirement, you want a safe, competent PSU that has the necessary six-pin or eight-pin connectors.

It ought to look something like this.

http://images.pcworld.com/images/article/2011/04/graphics_card_power_connectors-5166534.jpg

But it's hard to tell if this is what you're referring to. I'd consult a video on how to install a GPU in your position, it might answer your question (YouTube has thousands of videos like this).

 

[Funadddelic]

XFX RX480 8GB AMD Radeon, thats my graphic card, I have 2 pins with 6 heads, and on the other side is 1 pin with 8 heads, I dont think my PSU has a way to connect those 8 pins to anything, do you want some pictures?

 

[DSzymborski]

XFX RX480 8GB AMD Radeon, thats my graphic card, I have 2 pins with 6 heads, and on the other side is 1 pin with 8 heads, I dont think my PSU has a way to connect those 8 pins to anything, do you want some pictures?

If you don't have the connectors in that image in your PSU, that almost certainly means you have a completely inadequate one. I assume this was an old pre-built? In such case, it wouldn't be surprising - companies selling pre-builts generally cut corners by putting the cheapest, most low-end PSUs they can source that will power the PC they're selling, and nothing more, and for the length of the warranty. If this is the case, you'll need a new PSU.

 

[Funadddelic]

It is an old pre-build and Im ugprading one component at a time, my first component I bought is graphic card, a question, since obviously I have a wrong PSU, can I just connect card to PCI slot, will it still work but not on optimal until I buy new PSU, can I damage my card by doing that or not?

 

[DSzymborski]

It is an old pre-build and Im ugprading one component at a time, my first component I bought is graphic card, a question, since obviously I have a wrong PSU, can I just connect card to PCI slot, will it still work but not on optimal until I buy new PSU, can I damage my card by doing that or not?

No, the GPU requires that power. It's not like if you don't have enough mustard, you can just make half-a-sandwich.

For an old pre-built -- assuming the pre-built doesn't have a proprietary PSU -- the PSU is the first place to go if you have an intention to make significant other upgrades. It's the heart of the PC, the most important part that will provide clean, safe, power for all your other upgrades.