What Energy Connectors Do a Motherboard and a CPU Require?

If it is your first time constructing a desktop PC, seeing all of the totally different connectors dangling off a PSU could be intimidating. You would possibly ask your self, “Why are there so many connectors? Why are they grouped like blocks? And which connectors do I must energy the motherboard and the CPU?”

Though it might appear sophisticated, as soon as you become familiar with all the usual energy connectors in a PSU, you may understand how easy and simple it’s to make use of all these cables.

So, let’s try all the usual connectors, after which we’ll clarify the rationale behind every of them.

Understanding Commonplace PSU Energy Connectors

An influence provide unit (PSU) has a number of cables and energy connectors. Every connector provides totally different voltages for various elements in a pc, which means plugging within the fallacious energy connector to a part might fry your elements as a consequence of overvoltage.

Luckily, this occasion is unlikely for the reason that connectors are designed to solely plug into particular ports in a motherboard and different PC elements. Nonetheless, you may unwittingly undervolt sure elements utilizing decrease voltage connectors for extra power-hungry elements.

To make sure you’re utilizing the proper energy connector for every PC part, let’s focus on all the usual connectors a PSU supplies.

Here is a desk that gives an outline of the commonest PSU energy connectors, together with their names, perform, and energy specs:

Why You Want Totally different Energy Connectors and Cables

A pc consists of a number of digital elements that require energy, with every half needing totally different voltages to work accurately. So, you want an influence provide to ship all these totally different energy necessities.

A PSU is particularly designed for desktop computer systems to produce applicable voltages for every PC part, comparable to CPU, GPU, motherboard, and storage drives. It does so by offering a number of energy connectors with various numbers of pins which may typically be cut up to help totally different motherboards and CPUs.

Why Break up EPS and ATX Energy Connectors?

Trendy PSUs usually present EPS and ATX energy connectors that may be cut up. 8-pin EPS connectors could be divided into two 4-pin EPS, and a 24-pin ATX could be cut up into one 4-pin ATX and a 20-pin ATX energy connector.

These energy connectors present extra flexibility in energy supply and help for older legacy motherboards and CPUs.

Up to now, a 4-pin ATX connector might energy a CPU as a consequence of its comparatively low energy necessities, however as CPUs get sooner, the extra energy it requires. In the present day, CPUs have grow to be so quick that they want a minimum of an 8-pin EPS energy connector for stability. Some workstation CPUs will even require an extra 4-pin or 8-pin EPS connector when overclocked.

Since motherboards require extra energy in the present day, PSUs now present 20+4-pin energy connectors for improved energy supply and stability whereas supporting older motherboards.

Which Energy Connectors to Use for Your Motherboard and CPU

Primarily based on the desk earlier, recognizing which connector ought to energy which part inside your PC ought to be simple. However relying on the motherboard and CPU, you might want to separate, mix, and even add an additional energy connector to supply the suitable energy to the part.

A number of motherboard sizes can be found available in the market; for motherboards comparable to ATX, micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards, the entire 24-pin ATX energy connector ought to be used.

EATX boards often run steady with a 24-pin energy connector, however twin CPU EATX motherboards could require an extra energy connector. Compact motherboards, comparable to an ITX, sometimes require a 20-pin connector, however some fashions require a full-24-pin connector.

For many CPUs, an 8-pin EPS energy connector ought to be sufficient to supply steady efficiency. Nonetheless, high-end desktop processors comparable to Intel’s Core i9-11900K might have an extra 4-pin or 8-pin energy connector. Though the thermal design energy (TDP) of a Core i9-11900K is round 125 watts, it may nonetheless draw considerably extra energy beneath heavy utilization and much more when overclocked.

For older CPUs, comparable to a second-generation Intel Core processor, you might get away with a single 4-pin ATX12V energy connector. Nonetheless, if its suitable motherboard has an 8-pin CPU port, it is best to at all times use an 8-pin connector.

In case you’re nonetheless not sure which pin to make use of, it’s at all times higher to seek the advice of the official product manuals in your PC elements.

Do You Have to Use Redundant Connectors?

As an instance that your motherboard has two 8-pin EPS ports, and that your CPU will solely want a single 8-pin EPS energy to run. Do you should plug each 8-pin EPS connectors? Will populating each EPS ports ship an excessive amount of energy for a low-wattage CPU?

Redundant energy ports, comparable to one other 8-pin EPS port, will solely provide energy when such energy is required. This implies you’ll be able to populate all of the redundant energy ports obtainable on a motherboard with out fearing overvoltage.

Some motherboards could even require each EPS ports to be powered to put up. So, in case your motherboard supplies two 8-pin EPS energy ports, you might wish to search for a PSU that gives two 8-pin EPS energy connectors.

Understanding Energy Connectors Is Simple

A desktop PC has a number of digital elements with totally different energy necessities. So, you want a PSU to ship all of the required voltages via varied energy connectors.

You will want an 8-pin EPS connector for the CPU and a 20+4 or 24-pin ATX energy connector in your motherboard. In case your motherboard has a pair of 8-pin EPS energy ports, you might must populate each ports. To make sure, it’s at all times greatest to verify the product guide for the particular merchandise.

And that is what you should find out about energy connectors. With this information, you may confidently discover ways to construct a desktop PC, making certain you utilize all the acceptable connectors in your new CPU.