Need Help - PSU power connections!

[showhost]

Hi... I posted this earlier and it was confusing apparently, so let's try again...

I am building my first AMD system. As you know, a number of fans and devices require 4-Pin connectors.

The cable" groupings/configurations" from the Antec PSU have me a bit confused...

One grouping leads to a a 4-Pin connector which then branches-off a second 4-Pin connector.

Two others cables are the same except they branch-off a third connector -- some kind of a mini version
4-Pin connector (anyone know what this is?).

Yet another cable has just a single 4-Pin connector vs. two or three connectors like the ones above.

Question: Any rhyme or reason for the arrangement of these connectors with regard to connecting up
side-by-side fans or adjacent devices?

Does this "branching off in series" diminish or in any way minimize the amount of power each connector
delivers -- in other words should one NOT connect a CD-ROM and a DVD on a split cable and just do one
device per cable?

Also, why does the cable from the two Antec case fans branch-off into BOTH male and female 4-Pin
connectors?

And finally, somebody told me that the 12v rail stays at 12.22v -- and I have NO idea what he's talking
about????

Thanks...

showhost

 

[sohcrates]

<< Hi... I posted this earlier and it was confusing apparently, so let's try again...

I am building my first AMD system. As you know, a number of fans and devices require 4-Pin connectors.

The cable" groupings/configurations" from the Antec PSU have me a bit confused...

One grouping leads to a a 4-Pin connector which then branches-off a second 4-Pin connector.

Two others cables are the same except they branch-off a third connector -- some kind of a mini version
4-Pin connector (anyone know what this is?).

Yet another cable has just a single 4-Pin connector vs. two or three connectors like the ones above.

Question: Any rhyme or reason for the arrangement of these connectors with regard to connecting up
side-by-side fans or adjacent devices?

Does this "branching off in series" diminish or in any way minimize the amount of power each connector
delivers -- in other words should one NOT connect a CD-ROM and a DVD on a split cable and just do one
device per cable?

Also, why does the cable from the two Antec case fans branch-off into BOTH male and female 4-Pin
connectors?

And finally, somebody told me that the 12v rail stays at 12.22v -- and I have NO idea what he's talking
about????

Thanks...

showhost >>



well, the 12v rail is basically what is the average voltage on the 12volt line.

the case fans branch into both male and female in order to allow you to "pass through"...i.e. you don't lose a power plug that could be used for, say, a cd-rom when you just want to connect a case fan

don't go crazy and wire like 10 things inline with one power connector, but i'd say 4 or 5 things in one line is fine, they're meant to be split a certain number of times.

that "small" connector you're referring to sounds a lot like the power cable for your floppy drive, am i right?

so in other words, don't worry about branching off too much. in fact, you may end up needing to buy extra y-adapters if you add more hard drives and what not