Antec ATX12V v2.0 power supply pin 18 empty?

[rhatsaruck]

I just purchased a Antec SP-350 SmartPower 350 Watt ATX12V v2.0 PSU Power Supply from CompUSA.

The main power supply connector is a 24 pin job; 4 pins can be separated from the main connector. My board (Epox 8RDA+) uses only the 20 pin old style connector.

Upon inspection I discovered that pin 18 (in this diagram the white pin on top toward the right) has no wire leading into or metal connector in pin 18 itself. I understand that pin 18 carries -5Vdc.

Is pin 18 required? Did I get a bad power supply?

 

[BenchZowner]

Nope.Your power supply is fine.
Since ATX spec v2.01 the -5V rail is not needed, and actually not used by any PC Hardware ( ok, except the LED Display on OCZ DDR Booster )

 

[rhatsaruck]

This power supply is not fine. My motherboard wouldn't POST.

I installed an older power supply with power to pin 18; my motherboard POSTed properly.

 

[Oyeve]

Lesson here is NEVER buy a cheap PSU from Compusa. Take it back and get a refund ASAP.

 

[rhatsaruck]

I don't consider an Antec power supply "cheap". The one in question was perfectly suited for my needs. In fact it had more power than the Antec it replaced. And the reason I had to replace my original Antec was entirely user error - no fault of the power supply itself.

You are entitled to your opinion; I happen to disagree.

It appears that pin 18 was needed by this motherboard. That's the point.

 

[Seekermeister]

Antecs are not cheap in price, and in the past, they were considered high in quality, but their quality control is not what it was. I'm using an Antec myself, but when I replaced my old one, I had to return to the store 3 times before getting a good one. I'm surprised that you MB wouldn't post without the pin, but are you certain that it was the pin that was the problem.

 

[rhatsaruck]

Originally posted by: Seekermeister
I'm surprised that you MB wouldn't post without the pin, but are you certain that it was the pin that was the problem.

No I'm not certain that the actual culprit was pin 18. It's possible that the power supply was defective in some way.

 

[rhatsaruck]

Originally posted by: rhatsaruck

Originally posted by: Seekermeister
I'm surprised that you MB wouldn't post without the pin, but are you certain that it was the pin that was the problem.

No I'm not certain that the actual culprit was pin 18. It's possible that the power supply was defective in some way.

In fact that power supply must have been defective. I tried another power supply, also missing power to pin 18, and the motherboard booted properly.

 

[uo7]

Some msi boards also use it for onboard sound.