Graphics card compatibility help!

NZ Jonesy

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Jan 31, 2014
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10,510
So this is my first time buying a Graphics Card and i can't find anywhere to tell me if the card i'm going to buy is compatible with my computer please help! (e.g. Wattage & Connections)
The Graphics Card i'm going to buy is a EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SSC Version 4GB
- http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=04G-P4-3967-KR
My computer specs are:
(Motherboard) - Gigabyte Z77-D3H
- http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4144#ov
(Power Supply) - gx 650w bronze
- http://www.coolermaster.com/powersupply/gx-series/gx-650w/
(Processor) - Intel i5-3470
- http://ark.intel.com/products/68316/Intel-Core-i5-3470-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_60-GHz
(RAM) - 8Gb
(Operating System) - Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
 

Sinistercr0c

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Dec 16, 2012
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11,360
The 'compatibility' your trying to understand is simply whether any motherboard supports PCI-E as an architecture (which the vast majority of modern motherboards do). Virtually all consumer GPU's are PCI-E cards (whether PCI-E 3, 2.1, 2 or lower) and these revisions of PCI-E are backwardly compatible....so a PCI-E 3.0 GPU will work in a PCI-E 2.0 motherboard slot and visa-versa.

Most mid to high end GPU's also require additional power connectivity from the PSU as the PCI-E slot cannot provide the wattage required to drive the card...so a six pin connector, or 2 x six pin connectors, or a six pin + 8 pin connector (usually reserved for high power consumption GPU's)

So your GPU and motherboard are compatible.....as long as your PSU has the requisite cables (which it should) then Roberts your mothers brother.....
 

NZ Jonesy

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Jan 31, 2014
7
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10,510


Cheers man, what are the negatives of having a lower quality psu?
 
The small issues are stability problems when the pc is work hard, such as in a game. The big issue is low quality units are far more susceptible to failing and gave less protection features built it, this means if they fail there is greater chance they will damage other components.