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Question About PSU connectors

D

Drakonus

n00b
Joined
Feb 7, 2004
Messages
37
Hi, Im building a system in the nesr future, and i was just going to take the PSU from my current piece of crap and put into my new hotness. anyhow, im reading that some motherboards require a 24 pin connector and some require a 20 pin connector. Im planning on getting the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum. Does anyone know if this is a 24 or 20 pin connector? and how do i find out what kind of connector my PSU has (Other than disconnecting it and counting the pins hehe)?
 
Drakonus said:
Does anyone know if this is a 24 or 20 pin connector? and how do i find out what kind of connector my PSU has (Other than disconnecting it and counting the pins hehe)?
Click to expand...

20 pin ATX & ATX12V ( 4 pins :) )

24 pin power supply are mainly used on server boards.
 
That specific mobo uses the 20 pin with a 4 pin aux connector. The new 24 pin standard (ATX12V 2.0) pretty much gets rid of the need for the aux connection. The 24 pin is fairly new, so pretty much unless you JUST bought a PSU, it'll be a 20 pin. You might want to check and make sure that your PSU has that extra 4 pin connector though as there's one on the K8N Neo2. Also, you should run the numbers and make sure your old PSU will be able to handle the new load.
 
24-pin is also standard on PCI-e enabled micro-ATX boards. You can always get an adapter later on if you need it, though I don't know if there are any performance problems going from 20 to 24 pin or the other way around.
 
OK, I have a 420W Turbolink PSU its 20 pin and also has the little 4 pin connector. so i should be good right? i tried to figure out that calculations thing, but it went over my head hehe. Im getting an Athlon64 3500+, The MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum mobo, a gig of corsair 3200 DDR Ram, BFG Geforce 6800 GT, 2 HD, one SATA and one ATA/133. and of course a dvd burner, NEC i think.
 
NVM, i think i figured it out. it said i need a little under 300W, so i should be ok i think. thanks for your help.
 
salo said:
24 pin power supply are mainly used on server boards.
Click to expand...

that used to be true, but formfactor.org ATX12V v2.0 standard adopted the 24 pin spec from the Server System Infratsructure (SSI) EPS12V spec
and most any new board will have a 24 pin main power connector from here on out

Pac-Man said:
The new 24 pin standard (ATX12V 2.0) pretty much gets rid of the need for the aux connection.
Click to expand...

no, it doesnt

When I initially asked about this on a mailing list, Solaris x86 advocate Al Hopper told me I was drowning in my tea, and that it was "all very simple". I love the simplicity of Unix people.

He explained that the later P4 CPUs take their power from a 12 Volt feed and, using the onboard voltage regulators, generate the high current, low-voltages they need to operate (anywhere from ~ 1.6V to around 2.7V). So the first requirement is a PSU that has plenty of power available from the 12V supply. Since the older ATX compatible PSUs didn't supply much current from the 12V section you have to ensure that your new PS delivers enough current (or power in Watts) from the 12V section. That's why using your old P3 ATX PS is a big "no-no".

He then described the history of the post-P3 power supply mess:

The earlier Athlon motherboard manufacturers decided to solve the 12v problem by using an additional 4-pin square connector to get the extra 12V those CPUs required. However many older PSUs didn't provide the 12V 4-pin square connector.

The motherboard makers then wised up and decided that there was nothing magical about a square 4-pin connector, so they put a normal hard disk type socket on the motherboard and provided the 12v power via a standard hard disk (4-pin inline) connector. Problem solved - you may now use your older PSUs provided they supply sufficient 12V current (many did not).

Further confusion came from PSU manufacturers not specifying the capabilities of the PSU in a way that allowed the end user to verify it's 12V power output rating.

In the meantime the ATX spec was saying "use the new 6-pin" inline connector - and very few motherboard makers implemented it.

Just to be sure, some motherboard makers, implemented *both* the hard disk style 4-pin inline connector and the square 4-pin connector. They said "use either or both in any combination you like".

The spec then evolved to the 24-pin main connector. Again, most motherboard manufacturers did not wish to make their customers mad by mandating that they replace their power supplies. This might cause their customers to avoid motherboard upgrades. Some used a "special" 24-pin connector with the extra 4-pin connection blocked off, or colored so that the user could plugin a 20-pin plug into the correct end of the 24-pin socket on the motherboard. Many others simply ignored the 24-pin requirement in the specs. Again - problem solved - use your older PSU.
Click to expand...

the mess is now sorted out
you'll need both a 24 in main and the 4 pin +12V mobo auxillary connection
in other words an ATX12V v2.01
unless your running a server\workstation which is an EPS12V w\ 24 pin main and an 8 pin +12V aux



MirrorIK said:
24-pin is also standard on PCI-e enabled micro-ATX boards. You can always get an adapter later on if you need it, though I don't know if there are any performance problems going from 20 to 24 pin or the other way around.
Click to expand...
not advisable most 20 pin PSUs arent near the same amp distribution on the +12V rail for a given capacity, there would be exceptions, but you need to run the numbers

Pac-Man said:
Also, you should run the numbers and make sure your old PSU will be able to handle the new load.
Click to expand...

indeed

Drakonus said:
NVM, i think i figured it out. it said i need a little under 300W, so i should be ok i think. thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

and while you ran the calculator, you are of course aware that
1. watts dont mean jack, its the proper distribution of amps to rails
2. that is the theoretical maximum draw, but you have to derate the power supplies rating to your operating temperature, and that your TurboLink is actually a Deer power supply that your lucky hasnt fried components and burned down your house already, load it anywhere near its rated capacity and it will.
It is made by the worse PSU manufacturer out there, and I wouldnt even trust it as a doorstop

actually read the How to buy a PSU thread
post a link to your basic config, and I'll help you with the rest ;)
 
They are cross compatible if you have the 20Pin PSU and a 24pin board. If you are getting a new PSU and the board takes 20pin, allot of the manufactures separate the extra 4 pins, also you can buy adapters for them or change it down.
 
24 pin is backward compatible, though the clips wont line up (hotglue works)
given room, which is common

but vice versa isnt a good idea, (20 pin to 24 pin board)
a 24 pin connector on the mobo indicates that the CPU is being fed off the +12V rail, and few supplies that are 20 pin are up to the task
every revision of the ATX and ATX12V spec have shifted more capacity for a given Watt class from the combined +3.3V\+5V rails to the +12V rail(s)

it is of course dependent on the actual load of your config
and the capacity of a given supply

but as a general rule, its not a good idea
 
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