ATX 2x10 Main & 2x2 CPU Power Connector PSU sufficient for X38

[panzer948]

My Enermax 480 watt power supply is about 3 years old and I want to use it with my new system (Gigabyyte GA-X38-DQ6 MB & Q6600), however, I noticed the power connector on my PSU is the ATX 2x10 (20 pin) type and the CPU power supply is the 2x2 type (currently running my old AMD 3000 system). The manual of the X38 intel board basically says that the motherboard/CPU is compatible with these types, but to ensure stability, etc. they recommend the 2x12 main power connector and 2x4 CPU power connector. So will I be in trouble here and need to buy a new PSU? Is anyone using power connectors of this type and having no problems?

 

[NoelS]

panzer,

I think you can "get away with" the older 20 pin, 4 pin CPU, PSU, but to get your new board's best performance, believe I'd consider a new PSU, perhaps an Enermax 620, or preferentially (to me) the Corsair HX620 (I have both and like the Corsair cabling better). You'd have the new connectors and enough power to support future-proofing for your new x38 mobo.

Noel

 

[panzer948]

Thanks, I'll check them out. Just one question though. When you say "best performance" do you mean OC'ing ability or stable or not stable. In other words, if the latter, as long as my system runs stable I still should be able to do some mid-level OC'ing (not as interested in any extreme OC'ing).

 

[tomoyo]

The extra 4 pins just add more availability on all 3 main rails to your motherboard. As long as you're not doing anything extreme in terms of overclocking or power usage, you should be fine. Stability at stock settings will not be a problem ususually.

 

[NoelS]

The motherboard with a 24 pin power connector and an 8 pin CPU connector is designed for the power associated with those pins, but because folks still use older PSUs, the design also tolerates the use of 20 pin and 4 pin connectors from the PSU. Your PSU should run stably but may not achieve the same performance as if you had used a newer PSU. You may even achieve a level of over-clocking, but I'm sure you would do better with a newer PSU. I can't give you figures, but would just say go ahead and use your current PSU and see if you're happy with how the system works. If it's not up to your expectations, then buy a new PSU

Good luck, Noel

 

[panzer948]

Thanks for all your input guys. Just to be safe, I decided to order another PSU. After reading a few more posts here, I settled for the Corsair 550VX: http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16817139004

I want to do this right and didn't want the PSU to be the limiting factor. Besides, I'm thinking about keeping my current PC parts and ordering another case so I can have a backup machine. I can use the old PSU there too.