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Can you unplug the PCI-E 6pins from your GPU without removing the entire card?

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PappaSmurfsHarem

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Basically I need the ability to disable the dedicated GPU before booting certain OS's so my system will default to the HD3000. So can you just unplug the PCI power connectors without adverse effects with the machine off of course, and just plug them back in when booting to windows? Is there any danger in still having it in the PCI-E socket without the power connected

If only the bios had an option to disable PCI-E =(
 
#2 ·
I don't know for sure, but I would certainly not plug them in while the computer is plugged in and running. I'm honestly confused as to why you need to consider doing something like this...?
 
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Discussion starter · #5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by b3machi7ke View Post

I don't know for sure, but I would certainly not plug them in while the computer is plugged in and running. I'm honestly confused as to why you need to consider doing something like this...?
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I can't really talk about it on this forum. I'm just going to say it is Apple related.

Quote:
Originally Posted by PowerRanger View Post

Removing the PCI-E plugs won't completely shut down the discrete GPU, because the PCI-E slot can deliver 75W.
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Yeah I know it supplies some power. I just wasn't sure if GPU's with 6+6 or 6+8 pin power connectors would even try and pull power from the board (for instance if their PCI-E socket didn't have the terminals on it that pull power from the board. Unless it doesn't work that way and all the terminals are capable of pulling power.)

Basically I tested it out last night, and when booting into a "particular" OS is works fine and just runs the HD3000 but when the card's power is plugged in the boot sequence hangs since that GPU isn't supported. I just don't want to keep doing that if it would damage the card later on.
 
#6 ·
You'll probably get an error code/beep from the card if you try to run it w/o the pci-e power connectors.

You'd actually have to remove the card based on what you're trying to do.
Not sure if your board will let you set the default PCI slot (peg), but you could try to set the unpopulated one to default (if it's an option) and see how it goes.
 
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Discussion starter · #9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by candy_van View Post

You'll probably get an error code/beep from the card if you try to run it w/o the pci-e power connectors.
You'd actually have to remove the card based on what you're trying to do.
Not sure if your board will let you set the default PCI slot (peg), but you could try to set the unpopulated one to default (if it's an option) and see how it goes.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by redhat_ownage View Post

if you try to boot with the pcie power unplugged it will mercilessly beep at you and in red font on your screen tell you that you've forgotten to plug in your power.
225
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nickbaldwin86 View Post

if your board will let you... good luck. I haven't seen a board that will. if the card is in it needs the 6pin/8pins to boot or the board will not boot or yell at you.
but you can always test it
thumb.gif
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I've already tried it and it actually works no beeps or anything. That's why I'm confused, I had an old single power connector card that did what you say when i forgot to plug it in a long time ago. Maybe that is because it shared power with the actual PCI-E slot. My 7970 however when unplugged did nothing. Just sat there dormant while I booted into OS X running on the HD3000. So I'm curious do cards with dual power connectors even pull power from the board, or do they not have the terminals to do so since I suppose power from the PCI-E slot isn't required?

Just because it didn't beep at me though doesn't mean it is safe that is why I ask.
 
#10 ·
there is a chance the gpu will still run.
I accidentally unplugged the 6pin of my HD6850 a few hours ago while I was arranging harddrives spacing and the 6850 kept on running.
I wasnt doing anything gpu heavy at that time, just running HD Tune.
Didnt notice it until about 30 minutes later when I closed the case
 
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Discussion starter · #11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by edalbkrad View Post

there is a chance the gpu will still run.
I accidentally unplugged the 6pin of my HD6850 a few hours ago while I was arranging harddrives spacing and the 6850 kept on running.
I wasnt doing anything gpu heavy at that time, just running HD Tune.
Didnt notice it until about 30 minutes later when I closed the case
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Yeah but the power requirements are quite a bit different for a 7970 vs 6850. Like I said, unplugging both power connectors actually worked appeared to disable the card completely. I just am not sure if it is potentially harmful
 
#12 ·
(1) You can't pull the 6/8 pin pcie and leave the gpu in it's slot. If you're lucky mobo will detect this and prevent you from booting, if you're not, you may or may not damage the gpu. (2) Apparently, if you pull the GPU from the PCIe port, you can leave the 6/8 pin connectors plugged in and still run the machine. Take this with a grain of salt as this info was derived from conversations with eVGA techs and they may or may not have know what they were talking about. I'm planning to test with an old GPU on a mobo I don't care about, I'll let you guys know how it goes.
 
#14 ·
thebunnyrules said:
(1) You can't pull the 6/8 pin pcie and leave the gpu in it's slot. If you're lucky mobo will detect this and prevent you from booting, if you're not, you may or may not damage the gpu. (2) Apparently, if you pull the GPU from the PCIe port, you can leave the 6/8 pin connectors plugged in and still run the machine. Take this with a grain of salt as this info was derived from conversations with eVGA techs and they may or may not have know what they were talking about. I'm planning to test with an old GPU on a mobo I don't care about, I'll let you guys know how it goes.
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You didn't come back, I am thinking of how to remove GPU without unplugging either power which is lot harder to remove/reinstate than the PCI-E slot.
 
#15 ·
ParadiseD said:
You didn't come back, I am thinking of how to remove GPU without unplugging either power which is lot harder to remove/reinstate than the PCI-E slot.
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Easy buy a rog board that has the pcie slot disable dip switches
 
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#18 ·
ParadiseD said:
Well it wasnt answered at the time, and then we google and find non affirmative answers.. Only reason I registered, so what is the answer without having a ROG M/B?
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Not possible lol is the answer. Unless the pcie slot is turned off it will show up...
 
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