8 pin and 4 pin

[vietkangta]

On a lot of the power supplies on newegg i can't tell if its only a 4 pin or 8 pin power connector.

Why is there a difference? I thought you can buy any power supply and just plug it into a motherboard.


Can i plug a 4 pin power connector into the 8 pin?

 

[[Spectre]]

On a lot of the power supplies on newegg i can't tell if its only a 4 pin or 8 pin power connector.

Why is there a difference? I thought you can buy any power supply and just plug it into a motherboard.


Can i plug a 4 pin power connector into the 8 pin?

Yes a 4 pin P4/AUX will Key into an 8 pin EPS.

 

[vietkangta]

so why is there a difference?

 

[BinarySynapse]

The 8pin can supply more power to the processor, and in multiple socket platform each socket can have it's own power source if the power supply is wired to give each half of the plug separate 12v rails.