24 Pin ATX and 4 Pin ATX. Do I need the 4 pin?

[Frisky_Dingo]

I'm doing my first system build in a very long time, and I'm confused. The motherboard I have has a 24 pin atx slot, and a 4 pin one as well. Do I need to use the 4 pin slot? I have a 750w power supply, and it only comes with a 24 pin cable. It does come apart making it a 20 pin and 4 pin, but the 4 pin won't reach to the 4 pin slot. Please be gentle. It's been 10 years since I've done this and I know a lot has changed.

 

[DarkSable]

The 4-pin on the 24-pin is not for that socket - it's to make the 24-pin connector a 20-pin one for use on legacy motherboards. There should be a different plug (labeled CPU, most like) that's the 4-pin connector you're looking at.


The 4 pin is what gives your CPU its power. What is your motherboard, what CPU are you using, and are you going to be overclocking?

 

[Gam3r01]

The 20+4 pin connectors clips together and goes into the 24 pin slot.
The 4 pin EPS connector requires its own cable, which regarding your powersupply wattage is likely a 4+4 pin connector (You only have to use one set of the 4 pins)

 

[Frisky_Dingo]

The 4-pin on the 24-pin is not for that socket - it's to make the 24-pin connector a 20-pin one for use on legacy motherboards. There should be a different plug (labeled CPU, most like) that's the 4-pin connector you're looking at.


The 4 pin is what gives your CPU its power. What is your motherboard, what CPU are you using, and are you going to be overclocking?

I'm using an ASUS M5A 78L-M USB3 motherboard and a AMD FX 6300 CPU.

 

[DarkSable]

Then you're going to want the 4-pin connection.

Like I said, it's NOT on the 24-pin cable, it's a completely different cable... which will probably say CPU on it.