ATX 2.0 compatibility help

matt80

Junior Member
May 25, 2006
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Hi,

Can anyone tell me whether an ATX 2.2 PSU will work on my ATX 2.0 motherboard? The PSU in question is the Corsair HX520 which says is backwards-compatible with ATX 2.01, but I was wondering whether it is likely to work with ATX 2.0 ?

Many thanks!
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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Welcome to the AT forums if I haven't done so yet.

You can go to formfactors.org to read the current ATX spec and view the change-log (right at the beginning of each version of the spec). I think the main change between 2.0 and 2.2 is the complete dropping of the -5V rail which nothing uses anymore anyway. (The -12V rail won't be around much longer either.) And they added a few more connector types and increased the current rating for the contacts in the P4-12V connector and the ATX connector. They standardized on the 24-pin ATX connector in the ATX 2.0 spec.
. About the only thing you'll need to check if your mobo still has the 20-pin ATX connector is that the PSU has the 4-pin part that you can split from the 20-pin part as the 2.0 spec made the 24-pin EATX (aka EPS-12V) connector the standard. Or if your mobo has some room off the end of the ATX socket opposite from the orange wires, then you could use a solid 24-pin connector and just let the extra 4 pins hang over the end of the socket. That's what I do. Worse-to-worse you could just get a 24 to 20 pin adapter - some PSUs with solid 24-pin connectors come with the adapter, but it is always best to avoid adapters in high current circuits if at all possible.

IAC, an ATX 2.2 PSU will work fine - if you had mentioned make and model of your mobo, I could be more sure - but I'm over 95% sure without the info.

.b.h.
 

matt80

Junior Member
May 25, 2006
8
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Thanks Zepper and RallyMaster.

I can tell you that my motherboard is the Abit KR7A-RAID (yes, there are some still around!). And like I said, the PSU I am referring to is the Corsair HX520.

Will I be able to use the two together without any problems?

Thanks again
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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0
My earlier message gave you all you need to find out for yourself...

Forum etiquette
Rule 0: It is unlikely that anyone here is your Mama.

.bh.
 

RallyMaster

Diamond Member
Dec 28, 2004
5,581
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Uh...look at my sig and you will see that I am using an Abit motherboard (although a generation after) and an HX520W. Your motherboard will be fine.