dumb PSU question

[Vorrishnikov]

Okay, so I just got a new power supply, and found out the hard way that new PSU's apparently use a 24-pin connector instead of a 20-pin one. Funny thing is, the first 20 pins on the new PSU look identical to the 20-pin connector on my old PSU.

I'm willing to wager that it'll fit, as long as I leave the last 4 pins out of it... but what'll happen if I plug this thing in? Will it work, will it fry things, or is there some kind of adapter that'll fit on there?

Thanks much.

 

[madmat]

It'll work just fine as long as the last 4 pins aren't causing it to fit in there cocked.

 

[NoxTek]

Okay, so I just got a new power supply, and found out the hard way that new PSU's apparently use a 24-pin connector instead of a 20-pin one. Funny thing is, the first 20 pins on the new PSU look identical to the 20-pin connector on my old PSU.

I'm willing to wager that it'll fit, as long as I leave the last 4 pins out of it... but what'll happen if I plug this thing in? Will it work, will it fry things, or is there some kind of adapter that'll fit on there?

Thanks much.

You're exactly right. You can plug the 24 pin connector into the 20-pin ATX power header on your motherboard so that the last 4 pins are just 'hanging off'. The only way you'd absolutely need an adaptor is if there was a component in the way near the mobo connector which didn't allow the 24-pin connector to fit properly.

Actually most PSUs with the 24-pin connector are designed in such a way so that the extra 4 pins 'snap' off or break away in some fashion.