20 pin PSU in a 24 pin motherboard

[Arcex]

Ok, I have done plenty of searching and reading, and I just can't get a definitive answer...

I'm building a new PC, here are the specs:

Asus P5N-E SLI motherboard
Intel Core2Duo E4500 Allendale 2.2 GHz CPU
1 (not doing SLI yet) eVGA GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB PCI-E x16
2 GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2 800 RAM
3 120MM case fans
1 SATA HD
1 CD/DVD burner

I was planning to use my old PSU, a basic Antec 450 watt, except I forgot that my PSU is 20 pin and the new mobo is 24 pin. I've ordered a new PSU which will be here next week, but until then, will I be able to run the above system with the 20 pin PSU? Some say yes, some say no, I saw one post that claimed Asus tech support told him a 20 pin would work fine but even assuming thats true I want the opinion of someone more knowledgeable (call me cynical but I don't have too high an opinion of most tech support call centers). Thanks in advance.

 

[andlcs]

It will be fine if the old 20-Pin PSU is an ATX12V with strong +12V rail.

 

[Arcex]

Yeah, its an ATX12V and the voltages look good, I just want to be sure it will not make the motherboard angry and power those items till the new PSU gets here. Then I can plug the other HD's, fans, and vid card in, and start overclocking it.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Yea, I get to find this out this weekend as well. I can't remember if it is put into the left side or the right side though. But it's notched, so I'm sure I'll figure it out.

 

[MarcVenice]

I've been running my 24 pin mobo with a 20 pin PSU fine for over a year, and adding the 4 pins with a new PSU made no difference whatsoever.

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

FYI, I was paranoid & bought a 20-24 pin adapter from the local shop for my older Antec 480w when I built the rig in the sig last year...so you could go that route as well.

 

[Arcex]

Thanks everyone, I was pretty sure I'd be ok but I'm too paranoid about frying new hardwareto try it without asking for a second opinion, thanks for your replies, I feel better now.

 

[tomoyo]

I just wanna note, adding a 24 pin adaptor to a 20 pin psu does NOT help and actually could hurt. It just adds more resistence between the psu and mobo connections. I would always recommend a direct connection to mobo, 20 or 24 pin.

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

Originally posted by: tomoyo
I just wanna note, adding a 24 pin adaptor to a 20 pin psu does NOT help and actually could hurt. It just adds more resistence between the psu and mobo connections. I would always recommend a direct connection to mobo, 20 or 24 pin.

Yikes..did not know that...tks.