do i use the 8-pin power connector or the 4-pin?

Rswitz · 06-20-2009, 09:07 PM

my psu (corsair 1000hx modular) has an 8-pin power connector and a 4-pin power connector. which one do i use? my motherboard is an evga x58 tri sli board if that matters.

**manic** · 06-20-2009, 10:38 PM

If your mobo has a eight pin I would use the eight pin. If it only has
a four use the four..

**wrench97** · 06-22-2009, 04:27 PM

Use the 8 pin on a Quad setup.

gallup · 06-23-2009, 10:30 PM

along the same line as this question. I have an antec 430 earthwatt that only has a 4 pin plug and my new evga 730a mobo has an 8 plug connector. I can't get it to post with a 4pin to 8 pin adaptor. Is it possible that I need a psu with a full eight pin connector? My adaptor is supposed to put the correct voltages on the right pins. I only get a light on the mobo, but no post and no fan movement with nothing hooked up but one stick of ram and the kb, mouse and monitor.

**wrench97** · 06-24-2009, 01:39 AM

Denpending on the Video card and CPU 430w is a little small today and adapters are not a good solution.

gallup · 06-24-2009, 06:23 AM

Using evga 730a mobo with onboard graphics, not video card, amd x2 7750 kuma 2.7Ghz 95w proc, 1sata hdd, two ide rom drives and 2x 2gigs of crucial pc2 6400 ram. Other than 2 front usb headers thats about it so the 430 antec comes in about 130 watts over what was recommended by a psu selection utility on newegg's site. Figured a good name psu is better than a marginal name with a higher number. If this will boot would it be sufficient to power with the adaptor plug from p4 to p8 which actually only makes available the p4 power across the entire p8 plugs range. Hope this clarification helps and thanks for your input.

**wrench97** · 06-24-2009, 12:23 PM

For the dual core CPU you should be able to use the 4 pin Quads require the 8 pin.
The problem with adapters is that your pulling twice the wattage through the half the wires. But the dual core will draw less then the Quad.
Without a Video card you should be ok on the wattage.

Pull the board out and do the bench test don't skip ant steps> How to Bench Test Your System

gallup · 06-24-2009, 10:24 PM

Thanks for the info, I think all will work fine with the adaptor. I had a wiring problem, disconnected the 4p/8pin connector entirely and it posted. I ordered two of the adaptors, tried the other type and works like a champ. Thanks for the input, I feel better knowing a bit more about what the 8pins are for.

06-20-2009, 09:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rswitz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 15 OS: mac osx	do i use the 8-pin power connector or the 4-pin? my psu (corsair 1000hx modular) has an 8-pin power connector and a 4-pin power connector. which one do i use? my motherboard is an evga x58 tri sli board if that matters.

06-20-2009, 10:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,205 OS: xp	Re: do i use the 8-pin power connector or the 4-pin? If your mobo has a eight pin I would use the eight pin. If it only has a four use the four.. __________________

06-22-2009, 04:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 17,962 OS: Win7	Re: do i use the 8-pin power connector or the 4-pin? Use the 8 pin on a Quad setup. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-23-2009, 10:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
gallup Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 81 OS: M$ xpsp3, PCLinuxOS, Puppy Linux	Re: do i use the 8-pin power connector or the 4-pin? along the same line as this question. I have an antec 430 earthwatt that only has a 4 pin plug and my new evga 730a mobo has an 8 plug connector. I can't get it to post with a 4pin to 8 pin adaptor. Is it possible that I need a psu with a full eight pin connector? My adaptor is supposed to put the correct voltages on the right pins. I only get a light on the mobo, but no post and no fan movement with nothing hooked up but one stick of ram and the kb, mouse and monitor.

06-24-2009, 01:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 17,962 OS: Win7	Re: do i use the 8-pin power connector or the 4-pin? Denpending on the Video card and CPU 430w is a little small today and adapters are not a good solution. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-24-2009, 06:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
gallup Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 81 OS: M$ xpsp3, PCLinuxOS, Puppy Linux	Re: do i use the 8-pin power connector or the 4-pin? Using evga 730a mobo with onboard graphics, not video card, amd x2 7750 kuma 2.7Ghz 95w proc, 1sata hdd, two ide rom drives and 2x 2gigs of crucial pc2 6400 ram. Other than 2 front usb headers thats about it so the 430 antec comes in about 130 watts over what was recommended by a psu selection utility on newegg's site. Figured a good name psu is better than a marginal name with a higher number. If this will boot would it be sufficient to power with the adaptor plug from p4 to p8 which actually only makes available the p4 power across the entire p8 plugs range. Hope this clarification helps and thanks for your input. Last edited by gallup; 06-24-2009 at 06:30 AM.

06-24-2009, 12:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 17,962 OS: Win7	Re: do i use the 8-pin power connector or the 4-pin? For the dual core CPU you should be able to use the 4 pin Quads require the 8 pin. The problem with adapters is that your pulling twice the wattage through the half the wires. But the dual core will draw less then the Quad. Without a Video card you should be ok on the wattage. Pull the board out and do the bench test don't skip ant steps> How to Bench Test Your System __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-24-2009, 10:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
gallup Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 81 OS: M$ xpsp3, PCLinuxOS, Puppy Linux	Re: do i use the 8-pin power connector or the 4-pin? Thanks for the info, I think all will work fine with the adaptor. I had a wiring problem, disconnected the 4p/8pin connector entirely and it posted. I ordered two of the adaptors, tried the other type and works like a champ. Thanks for the input, I feel better knowing a bit more about what the 8pins are for.