Need help with power connectors

[jmartis]

My PSU has 20 pin ATX connector and two 4 pin ones (one is ATX 12V), but my mainboard has a 24-pin atx connector. When i plug the 20-pin PSU connector into the mb, the other 4-pin connector fits nicely in the remaining space on the mb atx socket. Should I connect both (the 20-pin together with the 4-pin) connectors or only the 20-pin one and leave the rest of the mb power socket free?

Another question goes to my video card, as my PSU does not have pci-e power connector, I installed the pcie-to-molex adapter on my card. However there are 2 molex connectors on the adapter, do I connect both or only one? If both can they be on the same power cable coming off the PSU?

Thanks!

 

[coffeejunky]

My PSU has 20 pin ATX connector and two 4 pin ones (one is ATX 12V), but my mainboard has a 24-pin atx connector. When i plug the 20-pin PSU connector into the mb, the other 4-pin connector fits nicely in the remaining space on the mb atx socket. Should I connect both (the 20-pin together with the 4-pin) connectors or only the 20-pin one and leave the rest of the mb power socket free?

Another question goes to my video card, as my PSU does not have pci-e power connector, I installed the pcie-to-molex adapter on my card. However there are 2 molex connectors on the adapter, do I connect both or only one? If both can they be on the same power cable coming off the PSU?

Thanks!

Plug all 24-pins in if your PSU has a 24-pin connection. Regarding the 6-pin to molex adaptor, you need to plug both moles connectors in. They can be off the same power sting. If you have a 6-pin PCI-e connector on your PSU, I would reccomend you use that instead, if not the moleses will be fine.

 

[jmartis]

Plug all 24-pins in if your PSU has a 24-pin connection. Regarding the 6-pin to molex adaptor, you need to plug both moles connectors in. They can be off the same power sting. If you have a 6-pin PCI-e connector on your PSU, I would reccomend you use that instead, if not the moleses will be fine.

thank you, I was just not sure if the extra 4-pin connector that fits into the 24-pin mb atx socket should be installed there besides the 20pin one, or it was for a different purpose. (it has all voltages on it, 3.3,5,12V and gnd)

I dont have the 6-pin connector on my psu, if I had i would have installed it already

 

[coffeejunky]

Yeah, as long as its not the 12v P4 connector its fine. Do the 4pins clip on to the 20 pins - they usually do?

Let us know if you have any more problems.

 

[jmartis]

The system is now running, thanks for your help.

I have a "problem" with the PSU though, and that is- under load the fan sometimes spins up really fast and then quickly slows down back to nearly inaudible level. I think it has only 2 speeds - min and full and nothing can be done, if that's the case I can live with it

 

[coffeejunky]

What make is the PSU and what are your system specs.

The fan will ramp up as the PSU gets hotter under load.

 

[jmartis]

What make is the PSU and what are your system specs.

The fan will ramp up as the PSU gets hotter under load.

I know but it goes really fast, I would appreciate if it had at least 3 speeds...

The PSU is Fortron ATX-400PNR (400-watt with "PFC" and "Noise Killer" stickers on it)

Quick specs: E7200 stock cooling, Gigabyte EP35-DS3, A-Data 2x1GB, ASUS EN8800GT, WD 320GB, DVD, Coolermaster Elite 334 case

 

[coffeejunky]

I know but it goes really fast, I would appreciate if it had at least 3 speeds...

The PSU is Fortron ATX-400PNR (400-watt with "PFC" and "Noise Killer" stickers on it)

Quick specs: E7200 stock cooling, Gigabyte EP35-DS3, A-Data 2x1GB, ASUS EN8800GT, WD 320GB, DVD, Coolermaster Elite 334 case

You are cutting it a bit fine with that PSU and that GPU. That is probably why the fan is so loud. As it is near the limits of the PSU the components get hotter so the fan has to spin faster. If you put your hand in front of the PSU outlet is the air coming out hot/warm. If its very hot, you may have to consider getting a slightly better PSU.

 

[jmartis]

You are cutting it a bit fine with that PSU and that GPU. That is probably why the fan is so loud. As it is near the limits of the PSU the components get hotter so the fan has to spin faster. If you put your hand in front of the PSU outlet is the air coming out hot/warm. If its very hot, you may have to consider getting a slightly better PSU.

The air coming out seems to be slightly warm no load, and moderately warm at load. I think it is nowhere near hot.

I just played my favorite game (Trackmania Nations Forever) and it didn't spin up, it only did that in 3DMark. So I guess its just fine.

P.S. I calculated the power input for my components to be around 260W on some online calculator. I guess my PSU has more than enough power

 

[coffeejunky]

The air coming out seems to be slightly warm no load, and moderately warm at load. I think it is nowhere near hot.

I just played my favorite game (Trackmania Nations Forever) and it didn't spin up, it only did that in 3DMark. So I guess its just fine.

P.S. I calculated the power input for my components to be around 260W on some online calculator. I guess my PSU has more than enough power

Bear in mind that it is not just wattage that is important but amps. Your PSU has one 13amp 12v rail and one 15a 12v rail. The 8800GT alone needs about 18-22a depending on manufacturers spec.

As long as the airflow is not really hot I would say it is perfectly fine for that system at the moment, but any upgrades may require a new PSU.

Enjoy your system - Trackmania is also one of my favourite games

 

[jmartis]

I know the thread title is no longer appropriate, but does anyone know if there's a way to set the PSU fan speed manually/do anything at all with it?

I noticed it does not speeds up very often, but if it does it's certainly a "sound blast" I might as well install one more case fan for better cooling, and will probably do this if I cannot control the PSU fan, but if I can that's preferred

 

[coffeejunky]

I know the thread title is no longer appropriate, but does anyone know if there's a way to set the PSU fan speed manually/do anything at all with it?

I noticed it does not speeds up very often, but if it does it's certainly a "sound blast" I might as well install one more case fan for better cooling, and will probably do this if I cannot control the PSU fan, but if I can that's preferred

There is usually no way to control the PSU fan (unless the manufacturer has a feature like this from stock)

You wouldn't want to slow it down either as it may cause the PSU to overheat and die.