20 pin PSU 24 pin mobo

[ChesterMcCheese]

If I plug the 20 pin into the 24 pin on my mobo (DFI Ultra-D), will that cause any problems? I have someone say that they can do that and it is exactly same as the 24 pin, but I have heard other ppl say that being 4 pins short screws overclocking stability or something. If I get a 20-24 pin adapter, will that fix problems that may or may not exist?

[Susquehannock]

Problem with most 20-24pin adapter is they split the single 12v (yellow) wire
in the 20pin to three for the 24pin.

There are some adaptors that connect to a molex for the extra 12v.

[ChesterMcCheese]

I'm thinking of selling my Truecontrol and buying a real actual 24 pin PSU. Should I just try plugging the 20 pin PSU into my mobo just to get it running?

If I'm doing extreme overclocking, I shouldn't do this with a 20 pin PSU should I?

[Mr. Cornell]

Please link me to a 20->24 pin adapter which has the 4 separated and running into a Molex?

I'm hoping to run a Venice something+ with the MSI Neo4 Platinum, maybe with SLI, maybe not, I haven't decided.

Is running an SLI off a 20-pin PSU in any way a good idea? It's the Antec Truecontrol 550, so god knows it has the juice...

[GrimReality]

Look at the difference in the 12v rail between a 20pin True550(24amp) and a 24pin True550(36amp), or a neopower480(18+15=33amp)

[ZachM]

The True Control is made mostly for boards that use the 5v rail for the CPU. Those days are over and pretty much all new boards use the 12v rail. The True Control wasn't made for high AMPs on the 12v rail, so an actual 24 pin PSU with high 12v AMPs would fare better than the True Control.

It could probably could do ok with an adaptor. Those molex ones sound nice. If you can't find one for sale, you could modify a normal one. Cut the extra wires, and solder them into a couple of extra molex plugs. It is better to get a 24 pin PSU though.

[Susquehannock]

Good point about the CPU/5v rail Zach. :)
The main thing about the ATX 2.0 standard is the twin 12v rails, one
just for the CPU, right?

Looked around for one of the 20-24pin with molex and couldn't find one.
Perhaps the one I'm thinking of was a custom. Would be very easy to do.

[ChesterMcCheese]

2 questions:

1. An OCZ Modstream 520W is a 24 pin PSU isn't it?

2. If I don't do any overclocking at all, I should be able to run my DFI Ultra-D with a 20 pin PSU with no adapter, even tho the manual says I have to use a 24 pin PSU or use an adapter, can I not?

[ZachM]

The Modstream is a 24 pin, but the powerstream is a better power supply from what I have heard. For only $20 more, I think it would be worth it to pick up the Powerstream.

Your 20 pin power supply should be able to run the DFI board not overclocked. It varies from power supply to power supply so I can't tell you for sure.

Check out this link from XtremeSystems.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53557

Making one of those would be the best way to adapt a 20 pin PSU to a 24 pin board. One guy claims to be running a DFI with a 2.6 GHz A64 fine on an Antec 350w with one of those adaptors.

[Susquehannock]

Yep, I would choose the Powerstream too. It's built to a higher standard.
But doesn't have the modular wiring like the Modstream which is what many people
are after I think.

[ChesterMcCheese]

How is the Powerstream > Modstream? I'd welcome the modular wiring, but that is more of a luxury than something I need. Is the Powerstream quieter? Have more stable rails? Higher max voltage? Greater efficiency?

Also, I checked outthe xtremesystems thread. I don't think I have the parts to make that. Also, it tells you to solder more wires into the PSU and I don't think I can do that, unless there's more instruction.

[ZachM]

You don't need to solder any more wires into the PSU. You just need to solder wires into the connectors. All you need to do is use the power from the auxillary or molex connectors on your PSU, and make an adaptor to run them to the extra 4 pins on the motherboard. I'm not sure of the exact pin layout, but it looks like from the pic you can use 1 molex, and the funky auxilary connector from your power supply to power the extra 4 pins.

About the Powerstream. First it has adjustable rails. That means if one is low, you can turn it up by adjusting a potentiometer on the back of the PSU. A feature the Modstream doesn't have. I have also heard the Powerstreams are better overall quality, and supply more reliable power than the Modstreams.

[ChesterMcCheese]

I just checked that thread again. Now I understand! That actually works? Just plug a Molex into a 4pin? Problem is I don't have a 4 pin. Where do I find them? Secondly, what order to you put the wires in?

[ZachM]

Someone in that thread said they obtained the 4 pin from cutting it off of a 20 pin from an old power supply. You could also cut off the ATX 12v (P4) adaptor from an old power supply. I am not sure of the order of the pins. You will need to check a pinout of a 24 pin connector. Check the PDF files of a 24 pin power supply from just about any manufacturer. Usually they will supply drawings with the pinouts. You will need to plug in more than just a molex. It looks like from that thread that you will need to supply an extra 12V, 5V, 3.3V and GND (ground) wires to the 4 pin. The 12v and GND wires can come from a molex. The 5 and 3.3v wires can come from this:

http://www.devhardware.com/images/stories/BYO%20Gamers%20ch%201/fig.%2010-10.jpg

Since I was picture searching at google for that previous pic anyways, here are a couple of pinouts for an ATX 24 pin connector.

http://www.netzgeraet.de/images/medium/steckerbelegung_intel-xeon_24pol_atx_enh-0635ae_bild1_henri-de.jpg
http://www.hal.trzepak.net/faq/winxp/ATX24p.jpg

Looks like you will need wires in pins 11, 12, 23, and 24.

Remember, wire colors on the PSU should go
Yellow: 12v
Orange: 3.3v
Red: 5v
Black: GND

Good luck. :)