A few PSU questions

526 Views 19 Replies 5 Participants Last post by bobfig, Mar 17, 2009

Acoma_Andy

Discussion Starter · Mar 17, 2009

Been wondering about this for a while now, so here goes:

1) My PSU has 2 x 4 pin connectors for CPU power. I can only use 1 x 4 pin in my 8 pin CPU power, the 2nd 4 pin doesn't fit because the connection pins aren't the same. And I heard it overclocks better with 8 pin. What gives?

2) In my search for a new GPU I like the looks of the HD4890. However, it has a 1 x 6 pin and 1 x 8 pin. My PSU has 2 x 6 pin. What would be the best way to balance the load over the rails. Use a converter on the 2nd 6 pin or something?

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DuckieHo

· #2 · Mar 17, 2009

1) It should fit... they are keyed to fit. The additional pins reduce resistence (and hence voltage drop) from the PSU to the motherboard. This helps makes the VRM job easier in providing power to the CPU.

2) Just use a 6-pin to 8-pin adapter. Don't worry about load balancing as the 3-wires are more than capable of running the combined 12.5A max.

Reactions: 1

Biatch

· #3 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acoma_Andy

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Been wondering about this for a while now, so here goes:

1) My PSU has 2 x 4 pin connectors for CPU power. I can only use 1 x 4 pin in my 8 pin CPU power, the 2nd 4 pin doesn't fit because the connection pins aren't the same. And I heard it overclocks better with 8 pin. What gives?

2) In my search for a new GPU I like the looks of the HD4890. However, it has a 1 x 6 pin and 1 x 8 pin. My PSU has 2 x 6 pin. What would be the best way to balance the load over the rails. Use a converter on the 2nd 6 pin or something?

1) Certainly better overclock opportunity. More pins, probably more power with a faster supply.

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Acoma_Andy

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 17, 2009

Well the second 4-pin CPU power doesn't fit in any way on my UD3P. Also the plugs are named CPU power 1 and CPU power 2, maybe they aren't meant to be combined? That was my initial thought anyway...

DuckieHo

· #5 · Mar 17, 2009

3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biatch

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1) Certainly better overclock opportunity. More pins, probably more power with a faster supply.

Not necessarily.... only if the overclocking limit is due to power regulation. More pins does not mean a "faster supply".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acoma_Andy

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Well the second 4-pin CPU power doesn't fit in any way on my UD3P. Also the plugs are named CPU power 1 and CPU power 2, maybe they aren't meant to be combined? That was my initial thought anyway...

What's the keying on them?

It should be (number of sides):
5-4-4-5
4-5-5-4

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Acoma_Andy

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 17, 2009

Each 4 pin has it's own clip. Here's a link to the PSU I have:
OCZ GameXtream Series

I'll check again later, but I'm quite sure it doesn't fit if I keep both 4-pin in position next to each other.

Akisame

· #7 · Mar 17, 2009

It should fit , they are made for it

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DuckieHo

· #8 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acoma_Andy

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Each 4 pin has it's own clip. Here's a link to the PSU I have:
OCZ GameXtream Series

I'll check again later, but I'm quite sure it doesn't fit if I keep both 4-pin in position next to each other.

I need to know the keying....

There are PSU with two plugs:
5-4 4-5
4-5 5-4

There are some PSUs with plugs that are:
5-4 5-5
4-5 5-5

I have no idea why they did this as it won't fit into motherboards: http://www.playtool.com/pages/psucon...html#eps4plus4

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Akisame

· #9 · Mar 17, 2009

Actually it will ,since you can easily fit 5 into 4 , so making all 5 will allow you to plug it in.
Edit: My psu also has this type of 4+4...

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Acoma_Andy

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

But if you look really carefully at the right half of this particular cable and then look at the 8 pin 12 volt cable pictured above you'll notice that they don't match. A regular 8 pin cable has four square pins and four rounded ones but the 4+4 cable shown above has two square pins and 6 rounded ones. The left half of the 4+4 matches the left half of an 8 pin cable but the right half is different. Hmmmm... And this isn't some bizarre cable either. I've seen plenty of 4+4s which look like this one.

That's exactly the kind of cable I have that is described there!

Akisame

· #11 · Mar 17, 2009

It should fit...I bet you tried it only once, and gave up

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Acoma_Andy

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 17, 2009

3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akisame

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It should fit...I bet you tried it only once, and gave up

Actually I spend a whole 10 minutes looking at it, because it just didn't make sense

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Akisame

· #13 · Mar 17, 2009

Try it the other way around, be creative , Joke

check the holes and 4/5 pins on the connector, make sure the part with 4/5 fits, and the other one with 5 only will fit for sure

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Acoma_Andy

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 17, 2009

The article also says it's dangerous to run with 1 4-pin in an 8-pin mobo. Great! :swearing:

I've been running this thing for more then a week with 1 4-pin, and my previous rig as well...

Going to open my case now and turn the cable 180 degrees or whatever to make it fit I guess.

bobfig

· #15 · Mar 17, 2009

lol 4+4 pin connectors connect the plugs together 1st then they go in the mombo

DuckieHo

· #16 · Mar 17, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobfig

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lol 4+4 pin connectors connect the plugs together 1st then they go in the mombo

Not always and not if they keyed incorrectly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acoma_Andy

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The article also says it's dangerous to run with 1 4-pin in an 8-pin mobo. Great! :swearing:

It is not dangerous unless you tend to do some quad-core uber-overclocks.

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Acoma_Andy

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 17, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobfig

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lol 4+4 pin connectors connect the plugs together 1st then they go in the mombo

The second 4-pin CPU plug had different connections then the 8-pin socket, read before you post my friend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieHo

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It is not dangerous unless you tend to do some quad-core uber-overclocks.

Ok, phew. For a moment I thought that was the reason my previous mobo died.

I have both 4-pins connected now. The second 4-pin had all rounded cables so I just plugged it into the square ones. Booted up fine.

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bobfig

· #18 · Mar 17, 2009

i did read but what ever if its scares u that badly just get one of these
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=3848
use this to put it on
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=2964

Reactions: 1

Acoma_Andy

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 17, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobfig

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i did read but what ever if its scares u that badly just get one of these
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=3848
use this to put it on
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=2964

Alright. Well it didn't scare me, just wanted to get some facts before I did anything. That's usually the right way to do it

I wonder if I can actually lower my CPU voltage now, or it will still be a craptastic C0.

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bobfig

· #20 · Mar 17, 2009

never know till u try

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