PCI-e cable question

ScumLord

A computer at work was having graphics issues, screen goes all higgledy piggledy with random symbols. It's using onboard graphics so I brought in an old graphics card from home to see if that would fix the issue.

The motherboard is a ASRock H61 Pro BTC, and the graphics card is a Gainward GTX460 GS. The problem became the graphics cards needs the additional power from the two PCI-e plugs on the top of the card. I order two online these ones but when I went to plug them in one of the pins is slightly different and I can't plug them in. The centre pin on the bottom row is square and on the card it's the other shape.

My question is, if I just jam the connectors in will it work? Does it make a difference?

Serephucus

They should be the same connector. Are you sure it's the right way around?

They're designed to fit so I wouldn't force it; if one of the parts is as different shape, it could be carrying current it's not supposed to, and might well damage the card.

Then again, PCI-E is PCI-E. Can you get a picture of the connector at the end? (The one on the cable)
It also would be good to know what model of PSU you have. The 460 is a somewhat power hungry card, and you'd want to be sure the PSU can power it.

ScumLord

I had to highlight the pins because the white just got overblown. All the pins are right except that middle one.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/Turk/pinproblem_zpsp5fzgjpb.jpg
Photobucket won't let me just link to the pic anymore, bastards. I have to take the "s" out of the https after the page loads with an error to get it to show on my own computer.

The PSU is a "value series" K-500A PFC 500W, should be enough.

TerrorFirmer

The PSU will power the card to the desktop but under any kind of load whatsoever it is likely dangerous, sounds like a generic cheap supply to me, the wattage is pretty much irrevelant in these cases. Often, they can't sustain more than 200-300w load without popping depending on how bad they really are.

A 2nd hand HD5450 can be gotten for €15 on adverts, or a GT710, either should do the trick and uses barely any power. The GTX460 is a juice sucker, will be much louder and is somewhat dangerous with that PSU.

Can't see that picture though, but all 6 pin pci-e connectors should be compatiable and universally identical.

Spear

If you copy and paste this link to a new tab, it should show:

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/Turk/media/bWVkaWFJZDoyMDUyOTMxOTE=/?ref=

This avoids the passing of an HTTP referrer header, which is what Photobucket are using to determine third party requests.

If you still see the blocked picture, try a ctrl+F5 refresh to achieve the same thing.

But his lower middle pin is square, and without the truncated corners the card expects.

ScumLord

There's a passive Geforce 610 in the computer I'm using now. I might just swap them, this PSU has the correct plugs too.