View Full Version : 20+4 pin?
Dino-Man
03-13-08, 04:19 AM
so basically a 20+4 pin will run any mobo or what?
nasvemos671
03-13-08, 04:55 AM
Yes that is correct.
Older motherboards use 20 pin. Newer motherboards and some old servers use 24 pin
=ACID RAIN=
03-13-08, 11:39 AM
The first 20 all fit ATX standard though. You're good to go with a 24 on an older motherboard ;)
Dino-Man
03-13-08, 01:39 PM
man i love these forums
freakdiablo
03-13-08, 02:01 PM
The first 20 all fit ATX standard though. You're good to go with a 24 on an older motherboard ;)
Not always, I tried to use a 24 pin psu on a 20 pin mobo and it wouldn't work because there were some capacitors pressed up against the plug and the extra 4 pins got in the way (but a 20+4 pin psu has a little clip that lets you remove them obviously). But yeah, the plugs are pretty much the same.
This is all assuming that you are not going to use older Dell motherboards. Some have proprietary PSU connectors that are 20 pin but different...
Basically, you can now buy 3 kinds of ps's, 20 pin, 20+4 pin, and 24 pin.
20 pin: This is the old ATX standard and works with older motherboards. These motherboards/ps's may also use an additional 4 pin power connector, which is NOT the same as the 4 in the 20+4 configuration.
24 pin: This is the newer ATX standard. It is 24 pins in one block (12x2). This works only on newer motherboards, but you can buy adapters to connect to a 20 pin. Sometimes you can plug this into an older 20 pin ATX with part of the connector hanging out; it depends on motherboard configuration. 24 pin power supplies generally also have the extra 4 pin power connector as well (for a total of 28 pins of power connection) that was found in the old power supplies.
20+4 pin: This is the most compatible kind of power supply. it has a 20 pin and 2 4 pin connectors. One of the 4 pin connectors is the old style and goes into a 4 pin (2x2) connector on the motherboard separate from the main ATX connector. The other 4 pin connector can attach right up next to the 20 pin to create, effectively, a 24 pin main atx connector. Thus, this power supply can power the 20 or 24 pin main power connectors with or without an additional, separate 4 pin connector.
The 2 different types of 4 pin connectors, while both 2x2, cannot be inserted incorrectly as the beveled edges do not match, unless you insert power plugs on motherboards like Homer Simpson does jigsaw puzzles (it really takes a lot of force). The wires are also colored differently in most cases. One is black and yellow (I forget which, I go by the beveled edges).
There is also a 2x3 pin connector that looks similar. This is to connect to pci-e video cards. If there is more than one, it's for SLI/Crossfire. Most have 1, which is all you will need if you are running one video card only.
Maverick0984
03-14-08, 04:36 PM
Basically, you can now buy 3 kinds of ps's, 20 pin, 20+4 pin, and 24 pin.
20 pin: This is the old ATX standard and works with older motherboards. These motherboards/ps's may also use an additional 4 pin power connector, which is NOT the same as the 4 in the 20+4 configuration.
24 pin: This is the newer ATX standard. It is 24 pins in one block (12x2). This works only on newer motherboards, but you can buy adapters to connect to a 20 pin. Sometimes you can plug this into an older 20 pin ATX with part of the connector hanging out; it depends on motherboard configuration. 24 pin power supplies generally also have the extra 4 pin power connector as well (for a total of 28 pins of power connection) that was found in the old power supplies.
20+4 pin: This is the most compatible kind of power supply. it has a 20 pin and 2 4 pin connectors. One of the 4 pin connectors is the old style and goes into a 4 pin (2x2) connector on the motherboard separate from the main ATX connector. The other 4 pin connector can attach right up next to the 20 pin to create, effectively, a 24 pin main atx connector. Thus, this power supply can power the 20 or 24 pin main power connectors with or without an additional, separate 4 pin connector.
The 2 different types of 4 pin connectors, while both 2x2, cannot be inserted incorrectly as the beveled edges do not match, unless you insert power plugs on motherboards like Homer Simpson does jigsaw puzzles (it really takes a lot of force). The wires are also colored differently in most cases. One is black and yellow (I forget which, I go by the beveled edges).
There is also a 2x3 pin connector that looks similar. This is to connect to pci-e video cards. If there is more than one, it's for SLI/Crossfire. Most have 1, which is all you will need if you are running one video card only.
Alot of single cards require 2 2x3 connectors now like the 8800GTX/Ultra. If you want to go SLI with something like that, you actually need 4 2x3 connectors which most higher end PSU's come with now.
Graphics card power requirements are just getting ridiculous. They really should have created pci-e with the native ability to deliver more power directly. I mean, AGP was from a time before cards needed so much power, but they had ample warning with pci-e. Either that or the power connector designed for pci-e cards should have been created to carry enough power for any card. It's really getting ridiculous... no matter how much power is provided, the graphics cards manufacturers want multiples of it.
Crazy Jayhawk
03-14-08, 05:39 PM
Also it is worth noting that if your PSU has a 20 pin connector and your motherboard has a socket for a 24 pin connector, you can still use the 20 pin plug because the extra four pins are all at one end of the connector. The notches on the plug should ensure that you get the 20 pin plug in the right alignment.
I don't know if it'll lock in place, though.
I'm not sure that the 20 pin can really power the motherboard though. It might lead to some instability.
Back in the old days, when some boards started adding a separate 4 pin to the ATX standard, you could plug in just the 20 pin and sometimes it would work, but it would often be unstable.
=ACID RAIN=
03-14-08, 10:55 PM
I'm using a 20 pin for my P5B (a 24-pin mobo), but yes some will work and others won't. It's the nature of change in this field lol ;)
didnt they introduce the extra 4pins on the 20 for the high power P4s for more voltage stability? plz correct me if im wrong.
netmask
03-15-08, 09:36 AM
didnt they introduce the extra 4pins on the 20 for the high power P4s for more voltage stability? plz correct me if im wrong.
I think so too.
jonnyGURU
03-15-08, 10:00 AM
didnt they introduce the extra 4pins on the 20 for the high power P4s for more voltage stability? plz correct me if im wrong.
That's when they added the +12V 4-pin, yes. But that's not to be confused with the 20+4. ;)
When ATX12V was introduced, that meant that the CPU was no longer getting it's Vcore regulated off the +5V on the 20-pin, but rather off the +12V from a separate 4-pin.
The extra 4-pins on a 20+4, or going from a 20 to a 24-pin, is just more juice down more conductors for less resistance. 99% of the time, a 24-pin board will run off of a 20-pin. I just wouldn't do it because you're less one +12V, one +3.3V, one +5V and one ground, so your introducing more resistance at greater loads with fewer wires.
That's when they added the +12V 4-pin, yes. But that's not to be confused with the 20+4. ;)
When ATX12V was introduced, that meant that the CPU was no longer getting it's Vcore regulated off the +5V on the 20-pin, but rather off the +12V from a separate 4-pin.
The extra 4-pins on a 20+4, or going from a 20 to a 24-pin, is just more juice down more conductors for less resistance. 99% of the time, a 24-pin board will run off of a 20-pin. I just wouldn't do it because you're less one +12V, one +3.3V, one +5V and one ground, so your introducing more resistance at greater loads with fewer wires.
thanks for clearing that up :D
weetoots
03-24-08, 01:07 AM
Ok, it will work but would it also work with a 20-24 pin adapter.
al
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