Can a 2x3 12v rail supply power to a 2x4 motherboard connection?

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tokyotechy

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Jan 22, 2017
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My power supply only has 2x3 12 volt rails. My motherboard has a 2x4 connection. I was able to push the 2x3 into the motherboard, leaving 2 pins open. I know nothing about electrical engineering, so I'm asking whether this is going to work or is it going to fry my whole computer?

This is a budget PC build. That's why I'm re-using a 5 year old power supply with a brand new motherboard.

Motherboard:
Gigabyte LGA 1151 Z170 GA-Z170-HD3

Odqpgte.jpg


Power Supply:
ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT 500W
doj6XiL.jpg
 
Solution
Albionm00n
Greetings!

I would not recommend attempting to use the 6-pin in an 8-pin required motherboard...it could definitely fry stuff. More power could be sent to the wrong pins due to the configuration difference. By the looks of it, your PSU is semi-modular but your CPU connections should be in the bundle that is attached to the PSU. If you look closely, you should have 2 separate 4-pin connectors (2x2) that should nest together to create an 8-pin (2x4 as you put it), these should be what is plugged into your motherboard. The 2x3 or what is called a 6-pin connection is for your GPU or SATA power. Am I correct that your 6-pin cables are modular and can detach from the PSU? In a semi-modular design like yours, the attached cables are...
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Albionm00n

Albionm00n

Reputable
Jan 31, 2016
462
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5,165
Greetings!

I would not recommend attempting to use the 6-pin in an 8-pin required motherboard...it could definitely fry stuff. More power could be sent to the wrong pins due to the configuration difference. By the looks of it, your PSU is semi-modular but your CPU connections should be in the bundle that is attached to the PSU. If you look closely, you should have 2 separate 4-pin connectors (2x2) that should nest together to create an 8-pin (2x4 as you put it), these should be what is plugged into your motherboard. The 2x3 or what is called a 6-pin connection is for your GPU or SATA power. Am I correct that your 6-pin cables are modular and can detach from the PSU? In a semi-modular design like yours, the attached cables are for necessary power (motherboard and CPU) and the modular cables are for added components that a computer can realistically funtion without potentially (ie: GPU, SATA drives, etc.)

Hope this helps!
 
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