Check this out

[idiotekniQues]

i bought a 4 pin power cable extension because i have a p180 and it allowed me to run the wire better instead of cutting a hole in the case at the time.

i decided to reapply as5 even though my rig is relatively new but i thought i probably used too much the last time.

i am glad i did because check this out:

http://athos.smugmug.com/photos/144636158-L.jpg

my pc was working fine, but this could not have been good. im obviously ordering a new one and this one is outside my case. but what does this mean? and how was my pc functioning with a burned out 4 pin connector?

 

[bruceb]

All that means is something was trying to draw more Current than the wire
or the power supply output could provide. Sometimes, it is also caused by
the connector pins not being Tight on the Mating connector. I would upgrade
your power supply to a higher capacity unit and if that wire is seperate from
the power supply, you should replace that harness section as well.

 

[idiotekniQues]

i have a corsair 620, rated as one of the best power supplies out now. heck, it can run a quadcore, 2 8800gtx in sli & all the peripherals fine. i have nothing even close to that running on here.

i checked the 4 pin connector that comes out directly from the power supply and it looked fine.

 

[humanure]

looks like the connection was bad, maybe the pin on the motherboard was bent? The corsair is a great psu so should not have been underpowered.

 

[pcgeek11]

Like was stated earlier it was a loose fitting connection on that pin. Loose connection = Higher Resistance = A Heater Circuit.

pcgeek11

 

[loafbred]

Affirming what pcgeek11 said: very high resistance or arcing at the mating surfaces of the connectors creating intense heat. I wouldn't use the same brand extension again, and if possible, don't use an extension at all.