Power Supply and ATI 4870

[RearAxleRon]

Upgrading GPU. Want Radeon 4870 1GB but 550 W power supply only has one 6 pin connector. Can I use a 4 pin with some type of adaptor? HELP :

[DrDillyBar]

something like This?

[Faceless Clock]

Any Radeon 4870 you buy should come with adapters that will allow you to turn two Molex connectors into a single PCI Express. That is how mine is operating since I only have one 6-Pin PCI Express connection on my power supply.

[StuG]

You need to check the amps on your 12+ volt rails before you say it can power the 4870....

A decent to good 550w PSU should easily power a 4870, and a budget one should be able too...but since you posted nothing about the maker or specs of your PSU you should check none the less. This information should be able to be found out from the sticker on the PSU itself.

Add up all the amps on your 12+ volt rails and if they come out to around 40amps, your fine.

If they come out to somethign like 30 amps, you might want to reconsider the "just buy an adapter" idea.

Side Note:

Welcome to TR!

[Flying Fox]

Add up all the amps on your 12+ volt rails and if they come out to around 40amps, your fine.

If they come out to somethign like 30 amps, you might want to reconsider the "just buy an adapter" idea.

Sometimes just adding them is not enough, because the combined amps/wattage may be lower. You have to read the label carefulyl.

[moriz]

my earthwatt 500W can power a 4890, so i'd say you are fine.

again, i'd have to repeat that it depends on the 12V rail of your PSU. mine delivers two 12V rails at 17A each, or 22A on one assuming the other one isn't maxed out. it's enough to power the 4890.