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Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Asus > [Solved] Both 4-pins neccesary?

[Solved] Both 4-pins neccesary?

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Asus [Solved] Both 4-pins neccesary?

Best answer from PreferLinux.

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quick question do I need to plug in both of the 4 pin power connectors ? Is it necessary? It works with just one. So does two help or hurt?



Message edited by bigtrev85 on 05-06-2011 at 10:45:39 AM
------------------------------ CPU - Athlon II X4 3.0/3.8 OC
Corsair H60 CPU Cooler
Mobo - ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO
Ram - G.SKILL 8GB DDR3 1333
Reply to bigtrev85
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I'm going to assume you are talking about a 4pin molex to 6 pin PCIe adapter. The short answer is you need to use both pins.

Reason is that if only one was needed they would have set it up that way. But if you use a GPU that needs that much power, the heat from that much current flowing through the wires could melt the insulation off. By using two sets of wires you'll cut the flow of electrons in half, and you don't run this risk. It's probably safe to do so short term, or even long term if you use a GPU that doesn't need a lot of extra power. Like a stock clocked 5750.

------------------------------ The voice of REASON
Do NOT feed the TROLLS!
Always a DEMON!
Reply to 4745454b

Sorry. What I meant was the 4-pin on the mobo by the CPU. There is enough room for 2 of the 4 pins but it will run with just one plugged in.

Reply to bigtrev85

Ahh, the 12V CPU plug. Same concept applies. You'll have issues if you try OCing your CPU, or if you try to use any of the 125/140W CPUs. (or if you use CF/SLI) If it works you should be ok, just don't push/OC the system.

------------------------------ The voice of REASON
Do NOT feed the TROLLS!
Always a DEMON!
Reply to 4745454b
Best answer

No, you won't have any issues whatsoever using a 4-pin plug as long as the motherboard is designed to be able to use that (which it must be, as it is working), and don't do any extreme overclocking. The 4-pin connector can handle well over 200 W, so can easily handle a 140 W CPU.

 

But it won't hurt to use it, and may help if you are overclocking.


Message edited by PreferLinux on 05-07-2011 at 10:54:12 AM
------------------------------ i5 2500K, GA-P67A-UD3R, 12 GB RAM, 1 TB Spinpoint F3 & 250 GB WD HDDs, DVD writer, Dell U2311H 23", Philips 170B6 17" & Philips 150B4 15" monitors, Dvorak keyboard, openSUSE 11.4 with Windows Vista Ultimate in a VB VM.

Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10,13
Reply to PreferLinux

So having 2 plugged in is a good thing? I'm just trying to figure out which way is better. I have enough plugs on my PSU to have both plugged in. Seems to be running fine with both...... hmmmm why would it run off of one if there is room for 2? Wouldn't you want both?

------------------------------ CPU - Athlon II X4 3.0/3.8 OC
Corsair H60 CPU Cooler
Mobo - ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO
Ram - G.SKILL 8GB DDR3 1333
Reply to bigtrev85

if you can use both, use them,
I run a mobo with an 8 pin socket but only have a 4pin on my psu and it works fine, but when I upgrade my psu to one with a 4/4 or 8pin, I'll use the 8pins
Moto

------------------------------ Once you start watercooling, you are almost automatically inducted into the modding circles as well, because theres rarely a 'from the box, fits everyone' solution, its your ingenuity and resourcefulness that makes it all happen,
Reply to motopsychojdn

bigtrev85 wrote :

So having 2 plugged in is a good thing? I'm just trying to figure out which way is better. I have enough plugs on my PSU to have both plugged in. Seems to be running fine with both...... hmmmm why would it run off of one if there is room for 2? Wouldn't you want both?


Both is better.

Why wouldn't you (if you were a motherboard manufacture) choose to allow only one if possible?

------------------------------ i5 2500K, GA-P67A-UD3R, 12 GB RAM, 1 TB Spinpoint F3 & 250 GB WD HDDs, DVD writer, Dell U2311H 23", Philips 170B6 17" & Philips 150B4 15" monitors, Dvorak keyboard, openSUSE 11.4 with Windows Vista Ultimate in a VB VM.

Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10,13
Reply to PreferLinux

Very true PreferLinux.

------------------------------ CPU - Athlon II X4 3.0/3.8 OC
Corsair H60 CPU Cooler
Mobo - ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO
Ram - G.SKILL 8GB DDR3 1333
Reply to bigtrev85

Best answer selected by bigtrev85.

------------------------------ CPU - Athlon II X4 3.0/3.8 OC
Corsair H60 CPU Cooler
Mobo - ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO
Ram - G.SKILL 8GB DDR3 1333
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