Fitting nvidia geforce 970 into my z420 workstation - power adaptors needed?

[Mancunian_Nick]

Hello everyone.

Tomorrow I'm driving over from Manchester to Halifax to collect my new (to me) nvidia geforce GTX 970 gaming graphics card to fit into my workstation. I've not taken off the cover to have a look at the power unit but I understand from reading around here and the specs etc, it's likely to be the 600W one so that should be fine (famous last words?) as it's currently using the graphics card it came with - the Nvidia Quadro K4000.

From reading other threads and the specs given on NVidia's website that the GTX 750 gaming card (4Gb version) needs 2 x 6 pin connectors for the card SO can anyone please tell me is it going to be possible to simply take the quadro card out and replace it with the new 970 or will I need any adaptors or cables before it gets here? If so I can perhaps get them ordered on Amazon so they'll be here by the time I get back from Halifax.

Thank you guys. If I need to open the case to give more information then happy to do that, although I'm trying to avoid doing so until tomorrrow. 🙂 Thank you kindly for any prompt responses. Much appreciated. Nick

[Brian1965]

Your current 80W Quadro K4000 card requires only one 6-pin supplimentary power cable. However, the 145W GTX 970 card requires two 6-pin supplimentary power cables. If your system only has the one 6-pin auxilliary power cable then you will need a 6-pin female to dual 6-pin male adapter cable to power the GTX 970. I recommend you open your Z420 to check how many auxilliary 6-pin power cables are available, as there are variations of the HP Z420 power supply. I have seen HP Z420 PSU's with 1 or 2 auxilliary 6-pin supplies.

[Mancunian_Nick]

Hello Brian. Thank you for all that helpful information. I actually took the side plate off when I returned with my cards this afternoon. I can confirm that the Quadro card in it now does indeed have the one 6 pin plugged into it, clearly marked G1. In the bottom of the case is another 6 pin although it doesn't have anything written on it but presumably that would be ok to use? The GTX 970 has 2 power connections on it - a 6 pin and an 8 pin. There is a 6 pin to 8 pin included in the box. You say it needs 2 6 pins to run it so should I simply use the 2 6 pins or attach the adaptor and use that in the 8 pin 'slot'? Once I know the answer to this, I can go ahead and try to fit it. 🙂

Thank you again for the information you've kindly given to me so far. I wait to hear from you again before I proceed.

[Brian1965]

The GPU card information I got is from the Nvidia website (reference deisgns). I'm guessing that you may have a gaming or overclocked variant of the card which requires some additional power. Please use the provided 6-pin to 8-pin adapter to power the card.

[Mancunian_Nick]

Yes it's the gaming/factory overclocked card as I think I said originally? So when you say "Please use the provided 6-pin to 8-pin adaptor to power the card" do you mean in addition to the 6-pin connector or just that one? As I say, the card has both connections for 6-pin and an 8-pin. I just want to be sure, that's all. I thought it needed both but I stand to be corrected so thank you again. Hopefully that should sort it once I understand it correctly. 🙂

[Brian1965 · Accepted solution]

Spoiler

Yes, you need to use both 6-pin cables. Plug G1 directly into the card and use the provided adapter and the G2 cable for the other 8-pin socket. 

[Mancunian_Nick]

Thank you kindly once again, Brian. OK I got it now. Appreciate your help/advice.