New graphics cards don't need power?

[zaphox]

Just purchased a new graphics card and was surprised to see no dedicated power input on the card. Haven't bought a GPU without its own power input for donkeys years. What gives?

[shaithis]

As dies are shrunk, the amount of power required to create the same performance decreases.

A PCI-E slot can give out 75W of power, so if your new card consumes less then 75W, it would make sense that it is bus-powered and thus, does not require additional external power.

[zaphox]

Thanks for the explanation

[Kash Money]

Does the GTX 970 need external power?

[zaphox]

Kash Money: Check out the GeForce specs here: http://www.geforce.co.uk/hardware/de...specifications

Looks like this card requires 145W of power so based on shaithis' explanation of the PCI-E slot providing 75W, yes I would expect that card to require external power.

[0100001]

What was the card that didn't need power?

[PaulM1]

Kash Money: Check out the GeForce specs here: http://www.geforce.co.uk/hardware/de...specifications

Looks like this card requires 145W of power so based on shaithis' explanation of the PCI-E slot providing 75W, yes I would expect that card to require external power.

Or they use two slots

[EndlessWaves]

What was the card that didn't need power?

Low end cards have never used them, so at a guess it would be something marginal where power use fluctuates above and below the limit depending on the generation. An entry level gaming card, the GTX 750ti would be the most probable candidate at the moment.

Or they use two slots

I've never seen a graphics card that uses two slots. A card with a cooler that blocks off a second slot is common and there have even been a couple with second circuit board like the GTX 295 but I've never come across anything that actually plugs into two PCI-E slots.

[PaulM1]

I've never seen a graphics card that uses two slots. A card with a cooler that blocks off a second slot is common and there have even been a couple with second circuit board like the GTX 295 but I've never come across anything that actually plugs into two PCI-E slots.

Why I haven't either, just promoting discussion . You never know, some enterprising sort may on reading this have an eureka moment.

ps. There would be a smiley thing attached if I new where they are hiding.

[ajcardiac]

I have a GTX 750Ti for an ancient system. It does indeed draw its power direct from the PCI-e slot. The PSU is only 375W. No problems.