hi, i have a compaq computer that i bought not too long ago, and i want to upgrade the video card in it. it's a pci-express board, so i went and ordered an 8600gt (only $30 on ebay!), but i then noticed that the power supply inside is only a 20 pin atx connector, and the board is 24 pin atx! what do i do? it runs fine now, but will it run once i have the video card in there? i did the math, and the power supply has more than enough watts to handle it at load, but that 20 pin to 24 pin thing worries me. should I be worried? Thanks! No try! Do. Or do not. There is no try.

Bet the instructions said something like it might run but you also might have trouble. Since you are running it why bother now? Let it rip baby! (you really should get a correct power supply) gosh that sounds mean. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10

When you get the new video card one of three things will happen: 1) It will work. 2) It won't work. - Get an adapter which will convert from 20pins to 24pins. This will cost about $5. 3) It still won't work. - Get a new power supply. -Ryan Adams Free Computer Tips and more:http://RyanTAdams.com Paid Tech Support: Black Diamond

The extra 4-pins are for the PCIe 75W requirement so you *may* have a problem without it. "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions" - Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction

If the video card has extra power input on it, it will work. If it does not, it may work when power demand on the video card is not excessive. I have a similar situation with my M/B, which has 24 pins on it with four pins plugged, and my power supply, which has 20 pins connector. I connected a Sapphire HD3850 AGP with 8-pin external power input and it worked. Regards SuatCINI