[Power Supply] 8 pin, 4 pin? What the...

Yesterday, I decided to make the tremendously stupid (but brave) attempt to install my new PSU myself. After staring at the giant web of cables in my computer, I got to work, I came across an 8 pin connector on my motherboard. On my old PSU; I only had a 4 pin. On my NEW Psu, I have two 4 pins on the same black tether... Scared of destroying my computer, I put my old psu back in and am waiting for my brothers help this sunday to install this thing... At any rate, here is my question (for my brother didnt even know for sure what to do here when I called him)

I have an MSI P35 Platinum Motherboard, and a 650TX Corsair Power supply. As I stated earlier, there are two 4 pin connectors that come on the same tether unattached. Do I simply connect both of them onto the motherboard, or do I simply leave one out?







Yes, this is a stupid question, but one MSI technical support couldnt seem to answer for me.

Yes, after calling MSI tech support, I get CSR who can barely speak english. I ask him "I have just bought a new power supply, the power supply has 2 4 pin motherboard connectors... Do I plug them both in or leave one out" After seven minutes of him fumbling around his computer and going "uhhhhhhhhh" he asks me "20 or 24 pin connecturs You do?" I reply by asking him again. Another 10 minutes pass "uhhhhhhhhhh... hold on" .... ..... ..... .... "20, 24 pin connecturs?" "This has nothing to do with that, this is for the 4 and 8 pin connectors, do I attach them both or attach one?" "... ... ... ... .... ..." "... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..." Oh, uhhhh if you can just leave 4 pin and you no have to have 8 pin"

Ah, thank you for the confirmation. Its a bit difficult getting them in though; the side of the box sort of indicates that they are supposed to be attached, but I guess it doesn't really matter in the end.

The 8pin is really meant to be used with quadcore cpus, with those extra pins it is able to better provide the power needed by the more power hungry cpu. The 4 pin is enough for duals. But this isn't a life-or-death situation really, a quad should still work with 4pin, but if you can use the 8pin by all means use it. (no matter which cpu you have )

They're both on the same line, but they are both 4 pin connectors, each with that little locking latch thing on the top, and they dont attach to one another.

Thats the samea s the side of the box, but does it really matter?