What is that 4 pin power connector ?

[xit2nowhere]

Hi guys,
I have IS7 motherboard. The PSU has a square 4-pin connector. What is that? Is it some kind of a power connector for my mobo?
The motherboard has a standard power cable connector and that strange 4 pin connector.
Should I use them together or just using the power connector (the rectangular shaped, with many pins) is enough?

Thank you...

 

[SynthDude2001]

It's a separate 12V connector, and I believe it supplies extra power to the CPU (someone correct me if I'm wrong on that).

It's required for all Athlon 64's and Pentium 4's to my knowledge (and in some cases it's good to have it plugged in even if you've got an overclocked Athlon XP system like I do). Plug both connectors in.

 

[evilharp]

SynthDude2001 hit the nail on the head. That 4-pin 12v connector was introduced by Intel to provide enough "juice" to keep the P4 happy. If you want stability, make sure you connect both the ATX main and the 4-pin 12v (aka the P4 connector).

Some people have been able to run without the extra connector, but stability can be hit or miss. Basically, it is meant to supply dedicated power to the CPU circuit, and to isolate the CPU from other voltage draws on the mobo.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Yup, it's an extra +12V connector and you're definitely supposed to have it plugged in.

Even a couple of Athlon XP boards have that connector (the Abit NF7-S 2.0 comes to mind).

 

[xit2nowhere]

OUCH !
I guess I was REALLY lucky that my mobo worked and overclocked fine without that 4-pin connector plugged into the motherboard.

Thank you guys for your help.

Best regards...

 

[Budarow]

I always thought/heard the 4-pin (a.k.a. 4-pin block) connector was exclusively for Intel based systems and NOT used at all for AMD systems????

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/0404MF.htm

 

[evilharp]

Originally posted by: Budarow
I always thought/heard the 4-pin (a.k.a. 4-pin block) connector was exclusively for Intel based systems and NOT used at all for AMD systems????

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/0404MF.htm

That was true with the Athlon XP (but you normally used it if your board had the plug).

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: evilharp

Originally posted by: Budarow
I always thought/heard the 4-pin (a.k.a. 4-pin block) connector was exclusively for Intel based systems and NOT used at all for AMD systems????

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/0404MF.htm

That was true with the Athlon XP (but you normally used it if your board had the plug).

DOH...I see my new mobo (A64) also has the "newly defined 4-pin connector" and thank goodness I've got it connected

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: evilharp

Originally posted by: Budarow
I always thought/heard the 4-pin (a.k.a. 4-pin block) connector was exclusively for Intel based systems and NOT used at all for AMD systems????

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/0404MF.htm

That was true with the Athlon XP (but you normally used it if your board had the plug).

Not true. It was initially designed for P4's because they draw power from the +12V rail (the Athlon XP was the last CPU to draw power from the +5V rail, IIRC). However, certain late-generation Athlon XP boards (like the NF7-S 2.0) had the rail for extra +12V juice.

Plus, of course, Athlon64's use the extra connector as well.