P4 Ready PSU on an AMD System....

[DragonQ0105]

As I'm still determined to fix my old PC, I bought a new 350W PSU (JNC's Power Calculator says my system MAX Requirements are 271W - my old PSU was 235W...).

It's "P4 Ready", but this is an AMD System.

I found out that "P4 Ready" just means it has the extra 4-Pin CPU Power Connector. Fine.

BUT, My AMD Motherboard also has a 4-Pin Plug next to the CPU....

So, should I plug the extra Connector in aswell? I mean, I know it's not necessary because it worked fine without it before....but if it's there, shall I plug it in?

Also, what does the extra connector actually do, because surely the CPU is already being powered but the motherboard anyway (through the 20-pin ATX Power Conenctor)?

 

[kjv1611]

If it's P4 ready, then it should also be AMD approved/ready - whether it says or not. Power supplies are generally the same, unless from an OEM, such as Dell.

Stephen
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6 KJV

 

[kjv1611]

Just make sure it has enough juice. For today's machines, if you are going to have a good video card, and a modern processor, a few drives and fans, then it's best to have at least 400 Watts, and wouldn't hurt to go higher for any future upgrades.

Stephen
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6 KJV

 

[edfair]

The extra connections are FCC mandated to keep the connector amperage under 5A per connector.


Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[DragonQ0105]

So I should plug it in?

I would've got a 400W PSU, but they were sold out until August, and it's only an Athlon 1.2GHz with a GeForce2 MX 400, so 350W is fine.

 

[edfair]

Won't hurt, probably won't make any difference.
Personally I tie wrap them out of the way unused.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[paparazi]

DragonQ0105
If it has the connector use it.
I used to have a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP (great board) but it didn't have the extra power connector.
Two HDD's 3 roms, GF4 4800Ti, it burnt out (overheated) several of the connections in the block, ruined my Enermax PSU and I ended up having to renew both.
As we don't know what you are running there is no way of knowing load and anyway if it's got one use it.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[DragonQ0105]

Specs, as requested:

MSI KM2M Combo-L Motherboard (Latest 1.4 BIOS) **Using On-board Sound**
AMD Athlon 1.2GHz (200MHz FSB)
512MB PC100 SDRAM
19GB HDD (UDMA100)
80GB HDD (UDMA100)
50x CD-ROM
32x4x4 CD-RW (USB 1.1)
Netgear FA311 Fast Ethernet PCI Card (Blueyonder 768Kbps Broadband)
GeForce2 MX 400 (64MB VRAM)
1x 80mm Case Fan

All of this working at full load uses 292W in power (according to

http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply),

so 350W is recommended.

Right, so if it's got a connector, use it? Fair enough...thanks for the responses

 

[SkipCox]

The 4 pin mobo power connector is required to be plugged in on the KM2M ComboL. Give that voltage regulator (large yellowish heatsink) all the help you can.

Skip

http://home.comcast.net/~skip9/index.html

http://scc.i8.com

 

[DragonQ0105]

It's REQUIRED? Hmm...would not plugging it in cause weird Windows Errors and Restarts?

 

[kjv1611]

I think what SkipCox meant was that the 4pin connector is required for your particular motherboard mentioned - the large plug from the power supply goes in the main power location for the mobo, and the 4pin (small square) connector would go in the only place available for it on your mobo (usually not too far from where the AGP slot is, and to the left of the processor) from my experience. I guess it could be in other places, but that's the only area I've noticed to date.

Stephen
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6 KJV

 

[SkipCox]

That's what I meant. The 4 pin connector is just under the 20 pin connector. Plug 'em both in to insure adequate power to the cpu.

Skip

http://home.comcast.net/~skip9/index.html

http://scc.i8.com