Question about PCI-E power requirements

[Flak Pyro]

Ive been looking into building a new PC (Conroe) and i have what might be a silly question about PCI-E. When putting it togeather will i plug and external connector onto the video card (Like my current AGP system) or do newer mobos have an extra molex on the mobo itself to give extra power to PCI-E devices? I am pretty sure i have seen both ways and this is why i am somewhat confused.

I am thinking about getting the Intel Bad Axe mobo which has the extra 8pin ATX molex connector, is that what this connector is for?

Thanks

 

[rysher]

depends upon ur mobo. most new mobo doesnt need xtra connector as they are configured to give enough juice to power hungry devices. but if u are going to use SLI, then u definitely need xtra power connection.

 

[nooh]

most mobos have something that will give the extra power it needs , on the asus board its a EZplug. Usually you will need it if you are running sli.

But that said the 7950 doesnt need that much power because of the architecture has changed from 7800 and uses less juice and most of us dont have a lot things on the board so it does become very useless..

Things are getting smaller and becoming more energy efficient.. The intel boards are about 25% more expensive than Nvidia chipset.