voodoo47 on 17/4/2013 at 15:39
yes, check the card's accesories, one molex to 6pin power cable should be included. it should look similar to this one:
Inline Image:
http://www.jmt.bg/images/products/24871_55043.jpgthe card needs both power connectors attached in order to boot up properly.
I feel kind of stupid right now - I've actually overlooked that you've decided to get the (more power hungry) HD7870, and not the 7850 (which only requires one power connector). would have probably pointed out the need to use two power connectors.
//in case the cable is not included, just buy it, it should be available in any hw store for a couple of dollars.
Dia on 17/4/2013 at 15:41
Nope. Nothing like the above came with the package. Just that short ribbon-thingy. Don't feel stupid, voodoo; I had no idea there was such a difference in the first place and no one at CPU Solutions bothered to mention the fact. And they built the damn thing for me and know I'm ignorant when it comes to the various components inside a CPU.
Dia on 17/4/2013 at 16:05
I did check and there seems to be an additional connector wound up in the bundle of wires coming from the psu, but it's only got 4 pins:
(
http://s29.photobucket.com/user/Diah_/media/CAM00279.jpg.html)
Inline Image:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/Diah_/CAM00279.jpgI'm including a pic of the extra little black 2-pin connector bundled up with the 6-pin connector (shown attached to my old 6850).
(
http://s29.photobucket.com/user/Diah_/media/CAM00283.jpg.html)
Inline Image:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/Diah_/CAM00283.jpg I've already tried to push the 2-pin connector into a corresponding port on the 7870 but stopped when I realized I'd really have to force the thing in there and I know forcing stuff is not always a good thing inside a cpu. Wondering if the 4-pin connector is supposed to be combined with the 2-pin connector to make a 6-pin connection to the 7870? Hope not, because like I said, the 2-pin connector just doesn't want to be pushed into any of the ports. Yes/no to trying to combine the 4-pin with the 2-pin to make a 6-pin connection?
Also: anybody have an idea of what the ribbon-thingy (in my pic several posts above) is?
Al_B on 17/4/2013 at 16:09
No - don't try to force the 2 way connector into your card. Some cards need an eight way connector rather than the six way in which case you'd connect both the two way and the six way connectors to give you a single eight way connector. In your case you need two six way connectors instead - one of which you'll need to get via an adapter such as the one in mine or voodoo's post. If you have a local computer store give them a call and ask for a molex to 6 pin PCI express connector. I'd expect somewhere like Radio Shack to also have them but I could see one after a quick look on their website.
The ribbon cable is used to link two graphics card together - ignore it, you're almost certainly never going to need it. The four way connector is needed for some motherboards / processor types and again you don't need to worry about it.
Dia on 17/4/2013 at 16:26
Thanks Al & voodoo. Now I can call CPU Solutions and speak rationally to them about the issue. Knowing these guys the way I do, I have a feeling they might send me the required adaptor free of charge. Imo it was their mistake since they built the cpu & should've known whether the 7870 was really compatible with my pc if they'd checked my original order instead of just answering 'yes' automatically.
Thanks so much for the advice! You guys are the best! And probably lucky that you don't live close by since I'd be blowing up your cells with my whiny pleas to just come over and fix the damn thing for me plskthnx. ;)
:thumb:
Al_B on 17/4/2013 at 16:37
Just double-checked your PSU and you might need a slightly different cable than I said. The ones above are for the old style four pin connector but it looks like your power supply may only have the newer SATA connectors which are much flatter and look like they have lots of small pins. If you can take a quick look at your power supply again and if it only has the flat style connector then you'll be better off with a SATA to PCI express connector (http://www.ebuyer.com/367227-6in-sata-power-to-6-pin-pci-express-video-card-power-cable-satpciexadap) such as this one.
CPU solutions should still know what you need and to be fair to them they may have expected an adapter to be shipped with the graphics card.Edit: Ignore that - I found information elsewhere which makes me more confident that you will have several four way connectors.
Dia on 17/4/2013 at 16:49
Okay, good. Because I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to be looking for/at. And yeah, to give CPU Sol. the benefit of the doubt, they probably did think the necessary accessories came with the 7870. Maybe.
Thanks again.
Dia on 18/4/2013 at 01:35
With much trepidation I cut the zip-lock tie holding the bundle of wires which were coiled together at the top of the tower, as instructed. Nope. No extra 6-pin connector hiding in here. What's that you say, Mr. CPU Solutions Tech-Guy? You now want me to take off the other side cover and see if the extra 6-pin connector was inadvertently stuffed in(?) the power-box (does he mean CPU?) or is hiding on the other side of it? Oh sure ..... and then afterwards I'll just slit my wrists since by then I'll have totally mucked things up for good.
(
http://s29.photobucket.com/user/Diah_/media/CAM00289.jpg.html)
Inline Image:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/Diah_/CAM00289.jpg'No ...
not the RED wire!', said Raph. ...... too late.
I have a migraine. I'm going to bed.
