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power plugs

S

synapse02

Senior member
Has anybody noticed that while PC components have been evolving at great rates the ATX plug has remained the same and rising power requirements for faster CPUs and such seems to be more than what these plugs can handle? Does anybody else notice their plug getting hot? Do you do anything to help keep it cool?

Jason
 
No, the ATX 12V standard came out more than a year ago to provide extra power. It has an extra 4 pin 12V connector. It's very common, but for some reason people seem unaware of it. Many folks just plug in the 20 pin connector from their old supply and never notice the 4 pin connector on their mobo at all. They are okay until they start to use more and newer stuff that draws more power. Then they get instability and mysterious shutdowns, etc., and they don't know why.

We are now on to the ATX 24pin connector on the latest boards.
 
Even with the 24pin connector the plug and connection pins are still the same, and I dont think they are adequate for the power requirements of newer power hungry CPUs. Too many watts consumed, and not enough connection material. I think this problem is only surfacing now, but it will become more of an issue as processors get faster.
 
Well, they have already moved the video card power away from the mobo. All of the video cards that consume a lot of power now do so directly from the PS, whether AGP or PCI-E.

If your connector is getting too hot, then it's not making good contact, or it's dirty.
 
To be more specific.. ive been noticing the 3.3V connection gets rather hot on the main ATX plug. I think this is because newer CPUs draw so much more power than before.
 
Generally the reasons connections get hot are loose or poorly crimped contacts on the psu side or, of course, trying to pass more current than the design limit. The only solution for poor crimps on the PSU wires is to RMA the PSU. If the contacts have loosened thru thermal cycling you can tighten them thru the careful use of a pair of small, flat bladed, jewelers screwdrivers. Use one to hold one side of the contact steady while pressing in gently on the other side with the other. You could also use a contact enhancer like Caig Labs Pro Gold.
. Also make sure you are using the P4-12V connection (4-pin square) if it is available as it will take a lot of load off the ATX connection. If your PSU lacks the connector, adapters are avaiable to use drive power connectors.
.bh.
 
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