Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
edge connector to slide into the slot. Note many PCI Express and AGP cards feature a retaining
tab at the end of the connector, which helps to secure the card in the slot. There are several
types of retainer designs used, and you will need to disengage this retainer when removing the
card.
4.
If the card requires power, connect the appropriate power lead from the power supply. Most
recent high-end PCIe x16 video cards use six-pin PCIe or six+two (eight-pin) PCIe power
leads.
Figure 19.32
illustrates a two-slot PCIe x16 video card being installed in a system. This card
uses the six-pin PCIe x16 power connector.
If you are installing a second video card for use in an SLI or CrossFireX configuration, keep in
mind that the second card might block the adjacent expansion slot. Note that in
Figure 19.32
that
there is a PCI slot next to the second PCIe x16 slot. However, when the second PCIe x16 card
is installed (
Figure 19.33
), its cooling shroud blocks the space that the PCI card would have
used. Thus, you might have fewer available slots than you expected.
Figure 19.33
illustrates the installation of a second two-slot PCIe x16 video card for SLI use.
Figure 19.33. Two PCIe x16 video cards configured for SLI. Note the SLI bridge between the
cards.
5.
Use either the screw you removed during removal of the old card or the screw used in step 1 to
fasten the card into place.
6.
If you are installing two or more cards in an SLI or CrossFireX configuration, repeat steps 1-5
for the additional card(s).
7.
If the SLI or CrossFireX configuration requires you to attach a bridge between the cards, attach
the bridge.
