Request: Good reading about pins and motherboards

TaskinRahman · May 1, 2013

Hello,

As I prepare for my first build, one thing I keep on hearing about are pins and connectors. I have a good idea what they are about but I just wanted to learn more about them.

For example, I know the CPU has a certain # of pins connector and likewise the fans also have a certain # of pin connectors but what exactly does that indicate?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions. I appreciate the help.

smorizio · May 1, 2013

Google videos are the best to learn. There are a few pc build videos online.
CPU mb most times people talk about bending a pin and or smashed pins.
CPU pins have data..ground and power. Hard drives like Sata and IDE.
Have two connectors one for data and one for power. Pc have set standards to make sure all parts work together. Wiki atx power spec and atx power supply's. It show your the voltage atx power supply needs to output and on what pins. Also wiki Sata and IDE pin outs and pci-e video pins and power.
Wiki also good for USB pin out and power.

JackNaylorPE · May 1, 2013

If ya wanna stick a cpu into a cpu socket, it is good if they have the same number of pins.

if ya wanna connect a 4 pin fan, it's good to put it on a 4 pin header

Good reading:

http://pinouts.ru/
http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Main_Page
http://pinouts.ws/

nukemaster · May 1, 2013

TaskinRahman :

Just like the others say, number of pins and the location of the pins has to line up.

For example, AMD Socket 940 and AM2 both have the same number of pins, but the cpus do not work on each others boards.

Also note that while they have "sockets" they also have LGA(Land Grid Array)s that have "pins" on the board.

The cpu and board matching will not always be a guarantee as well. An example of this is Intel's LGA 775 that was used for Pentium 4 based cpus as well as Core 2 based cpus had some issues because many of the older boards simply could not support the new Core 2 cpus(needed a new power system revision, so a bios fix was not an option on those boards.)

Every piece of hardware will have a manual and website to allow you to ensure parts are compatible(cpu/memory ect).

As for fans, 3 pins fans are controlled by voltage, while the newer 4 pin fans are controlled by a pwm signal sent on the 4th wire. 3 pin fans will fit on 4 pin headers, but may not always be able to run at different speeds. pwm(4 pin) fans can plug into a 3 pin fan header with the extra connector hanging off the board. They will still control speed with voltage(but not always as well) if the board supports it.

For the most part, things only fit in the place they should go, but watch out for floppy power connectors that CAN be forced onto a fan header(3 or 4 pin) and some users have plugged PCI-E cables into a cpu power connector(bad things).

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Request: Good reading about pins and motherboards

TaskinRahman

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smorizio

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JackNaylorPE

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nukemaster

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