[Sapphire Radeon HD 3650] Power input?

2008-11-29 20:59:05

#1

mtb0minime: minimember; +2,418|6920

My parents recently got a new computer that came with an HD monitor, unfortunately the on-board videocard is using shitty VGA. I told them they should upgrade their videocard and get an HD adapter so they can take full advantage of it, as well as possibly buying a blu-ray drive (worry about that later).

I'm looking at this card. Cheap, good reviews/ratings, and I've got a similar card myself (3850).

One thing that worries me is the power input. I don't see one on any of the pictures on the website, nor any of the other pictures I saw when I googled it. I also haven't seen any mention of it on lists of specs. I'm guessing it just runs off the pci slot? Can someone confirm this for me?

I know it's such a minor thing, but I'm putting all this together on a wish list I'm going to e-mail them so they can buy everything all at once and we won't have to wait on a bunch of different packages arriving or have to go out to get a little power adapter cable. I just want to know if I'll need to get a molex 4-pin adapter to a 6-pin (their power suppy doesn't have any 6-pin connections).

Sorry if this is a bit convoluted and rambling, and as always, any help is appreciated

2008-11-29 21:03:36

#2

Defiance: Member; +438|6937

It appears that it runs off the PCI slot alone.

Also, what the fuck is an HD monitor? DVI? HDMI? 1080p and the lot are television standards. PCs have been using higher resolutions for years.

While that sentence is full of contempt, I mention it for this reason: The resolution that 'HD Movies' run at is not hampered by VGA.

Edit: Ohh, I see what this is getting at. HDCP and all that shenanigans. There's really no point to it all, it's as easy to get a freeware bypass and it's already being done commercially. I'd just go around it in software, but that's just my modus operandi.

Last edited by Defiance (2008-11-29 21:08:55)

2008-11-29 21:08:28

#3

mtb0minime: minimember; +2,418|6920

The monitor has HDMI and VGA inputs. So you're saying that getting the HD card wouldn't be worth it? Would a DVI adapter for the VGA output be good enough? Maybe it's me, but looking at their monitor, I see that fonts, icons, pictures, etc. are slightly blurry, which, I imagine, is because it's analog and not digital. (And yes, the resolution is set at the monitor's native resolution).

2008-11-29 21:17:35

#4

Defiance: Member; +438|6937

You say you can look at the monitor and you have a 3850 on hand so why not connect the two? If the monitor has an HDMI port, it ought to have a DVI port. If you can get a hold of one, you can try a DVI - > HDMI adapter if in the end you want to connect to it in DVI.

If the image changes at all, and it's worth the new card to you, then I see no reason not to go for it.

2008-11-29 21:29:21

#5

mtb0minime: minimember; +2,418|6920

That's what I was going to do, but I don't have my adapter with me

I will do that though, when I get the next chance in a few more weeks.
Thanks for the help!

2008-11-29 21:58:16

#6

TimmmmaaaaH: Damn, I... had something for this; +725|6705|Brisbane, Australia

Yes VGA is slightly blurry at 1920x1200, I can confirm this.

I dont know what the upper limit to crisp VGA display is, but I am guessing 1920x1080, cause I couldnt really notice a difference at 1680x1050.

https://bf3s.com/sigs/5e6a35c97adb20771c7b713312c0307c23a7a36a.png

2008-11-29 23:35:03

#7

.Sup: be nice; +2,646|6719|The Twilight Zone

The adapter cable is always shipped with the card and yes, VGA sucks hairy balls-don't use it!

https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png

2008-11-30 04:29:18

#8

Kurazoo: Pheasant Plucker; +440|6950|West Yorkshire, U.K

I have this card in my home machine.

It powers off the PCI-E.

BF2S Forums [Sapphire Radeon HD 3650] Power input?

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