im curious...i have an ati radeon x850 xl pe pci express card...its brand new in my computer...i was wondering how can u tell if the video card is getting full power and is giving u the speed its supposed to?...i connected my power supply wire to my card...i never got a wire in my video card so i used the 1 in my computer...oh when i turn my computer on or restart it i hear my video card make a noise for about 5 seconds so im guessing its getting power

I thought PCIe cards got all their juice from the PCIe slot, not extra power connections? Some people are like Slinkies, not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs...

So long as the power connector is plugged in and the fan on the card spins, your card should be getting full power unless you have a defective PSU. B4 you criticize a bigger man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, you're a mile away, and you have his shoes.

Apparently the card demands more juice than the PCI-E slot can supply hence the provision for an auxiliary connector. B4 you criticize a bigger man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, you're a mile away, and you have his shoes.