Do you have to plug in a Graphics Card in order for the computer to power up?

Acoverboe14

Prominent
Feb 17, 2017
5
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510
I have been building a computer for a couple months now and have all the parts except the Graphics Card and SSD. I have connected my power supply connectors to all the proper ports and have tried to power it up. I have a older graphics card in as a replacement in case I need a graphics card in order for the computer to power up. I tried powering it up and nothing happens no power no nothing. I was wondering do you have to connect the PCI-E connectors from the PSU to the graphics card for it to start up? If you know the answer let me know and thanks!
 
Solution
if the card is installed, then it needs all the power hooked up to run. this can stop the pc from starting up.

if the cpu has built in graphics, then you can take it out and simply use the mobo outputs to get the video to the monitor. it'll work fine like that until you have a new gpu to install. but to use the old card, it does need all it's power hooked up. to be sure that is it, take out the gpu and start it up without it. it should start up with only the cpu and ram installed, though you'll only get as far as the bios screen this way with no hdd to boot from

Math Geek

Titan
Ambassador
if the card is installed, then it needs all the power hooked up to run. this can stop the pc from starting up.

if the cpu has built in graphics, then you can take it out and simply use the mobo outputs to get the video to the monitor. it'll work fine like that until you have a new gpu to install. but to use the old card, it does need all it's power hooked up. to be sure that is it, take out the gpu and start it up without it. it should start up with only the cpu and ram installed, though you'll only get as far as the bios screen this way with no hdd to boot from
 
Solution

Acoverboe14

Prominent
Feb 17, 2017
5
0
510


HOLY CRAP IT WORKS! Thank you SO much!
 

Acoverboe14

Prominent
Feb 17, 2017
5
0
510


I decided to just take out the old graphics card and use the HDMI port on the motherboard. I am going to plug in the power to the new card I am getting soon. But for now I just wanted to see if I could get it to start up.