Ramifications of running a 20-pin PSU on a 24-pin board

[SunnyD]

The last thing I want to do is upgrade everything and it's mother too, but I would like to know if my Antec TruPower 430 is going to need to be upgraded if I am going to an Athlon 64 board. Particularly a DFI or Asus.

 

[Uhtrinity]

If you don't connect the 4 pin plug you most likely won't even get to post.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity
If you don't connect the 4 pin plug you most likely won't even get to post.

Well yeah, that goes for any A64 board. I'm talking about the main ATX power connector.

 

[MajorPayne]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity
If you don't connect the 4 pin plug you most likely won't even get to post.

Well yeah, that goes for any A64 board. I'm talking about the main ATX power connector.

I think he meant the extra 4 pins of the 24-pin PSU for the new Nforce4 motherboards. As far as it goes, I would either get an adaptor (still an iffy proposal), or upgrade to a 24-pin PSU.

I used to own a Chaintech VNF4 motherboard, and had a 24-pin power supply hooked up to it. That PSU died, and I had to go with a lower power 20-pin PSU as a standby until my 24-pin PSU arrived. On the day the new PSU arrived, my motherboard completely died (no post, video, etc). I can not say for sure that it was related to running it with a 20-pin PSU, but I would not subject my new motherboard (a DFI SLI board) to it if you paid me.

On the other side of the coin, the Chaintech board DID run for a couple of weeks fine on the 20-pin PSU (I did not use an adapter, I just plugged the 20-pin connector into the 24-pin slot), AND most of the Nforce4 motherboard makers state that the 24-pin PSU is not required, just recommended.

So in the end, I guess it is up to you, but knowing what happened to me, I will never again take a chance on putting a 20-pin PSU with a 24-pin board. I would much rather replace the PSU than the motherboard in most cases!

 

[jose]

If you get a NF4 mobo then get a native 24pin psu...
Just search this bbs, alot of problems are because ppl don't follow manf's requirements.

 

[Promethply]

My Athlon64 system, which runs on an ASUS A8N-SLI mobo (with 24 pin EATX socket) works just fine using the Antec TrueControl PSU's 20 pin ATX plug.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: Promethply
My Athlon64 system, which runs on an ASUS A8N-SLI mobo (with 24 pin EATX socket) works just fine using the Antec TrueControl PSU's 20 pin ATX plug.

Me too for over four months now. And it works with or without the EZplug

 

[Umberger]

is there only one way you can orient the 20 pin PSU plug? or do i have to worry about the location on the 24 pin connector?

 

[Promethply]

Originally posted by: Umberger
is there only one way you can orient the 20 pin PSU plug? or do i have to worry about the location on the 24 pin connector?

Yes, like most other connectors on the mobos, there's only one way that you can connect the 20 pin PSU plug into the 24 pin connector.

 

[kjackson09]

My system specs are in my sig.

I use the 20-pin connector in the 24-pin slot (leaving 4 pins not used). I do not use any adapters. As I understand it the extra four pins are for graphics cards that require a lot of power (ie. running in SLI Mode, and maybe even a single 6800GT card)

My system has been up and running since February with heavy use (too much World of Warcraft) and the system has been rock stable. Antec has (or had) a note on their website telling their customers not to worry about this.

 

[imported_Soldier]

I would agree that as long as you are not running SLi or an overclocked 6800 series card your probably going to be ok with the standard ATX power supply. The extra four pins boost the PCI-E slot(s) up to 75 watts each...