4pin ATX 12V connector

[duragezic]

I always thought that 4pin was for P4s only. So I ran for 1.5 years with this sytem without it plugged in. I read a few threads a week or so ago and they all mentioned that it should be plugged in regardless (or so was the general consensus). I always just ignored it cause I thought it wasn't needed and only plugged in the regular 20pin. My old comp was a Athlon Tbird, and IIRC that Via KK266 mobo didn't have the connector, though the PSU did.

Then I realized, my NF2 Ultra mobo is ONLY for Athlon/Duron/XP processors and it does indeed have the 4pin connector. Yet some people claimed in those threads that your comp wouldn't boot without it. Then I checked my Shuttle manual and it simply reads: "You must plug in both power connectors".

So a few days ago I plugged it in and guess what, NO difference.


Is this only for later Athlon CPUs or what? What the hell does it even do if I can go with or without it?

 

[duragezic]

bumpage

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Does it matter if you leave it in then? Or are you just wondering.

 

[duragezic]

I'm more just curious. I'll leave it in since the mobo includes it as well as the manual saying to have them both plugged in, but I haven't noticed a single difference while running it then I did for over a year without it. I thought maybe I could drop down my CPU voltage from a ridiculous 1.775 V (the mobile Barton is 1.45 V default, but this piece of crap needs 1.775V for 2.2ghz to be stable).

 

[duragezic]

Anyone knoww?

 

[Twsmit]

Im not an expert on PSU's and where all the voltage goes etc... but the 4 pin "P4" connector is only labled as a P4 connector because the P4 was the first platform to require it. As for your system, the more connectors you have the more stability your motherboard will experience.

DO plug it in, it might run without the connector, but its a better choice to have it connected.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

It supplies an additional +12V rail, since the P4s drew more on that line than the original ATX spec allowed for.

Bottom line - increased stability if you were having trouble, but likely won't do anything. But why not plug it in?

- M4H

 

[TheRyuu]

Its just like the EZ plug on the Asus SLI boards, why not plug it in (even if you don't have SLI).