4 Pin CPU Motherboard Connector broken.

[dontnoanthing]

I was changing my PC power supply over and a pin broke off the motherboard 4 pin power socket. I put in the new PSU anyway and the system is working fine. Will working off the 3 pins degrade or damage my system components over the long term? And how can it still be working?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CountMike]

There are two +12v pins and two ground pins. In theory only one of each is necessary. Some have 8 even. The load is spread over multiple wires to lower load per wire.

 

[dontnoanthing]

There are two +12v pins and two ground pins. In theory only one of each is necessary. Some have 8 even. The load is spread over multiple wires to lower load per wire.

Should be OK then? Thanks for the info and happy new year!!

 

[lordmogul]

How could you break a pin out of that:

You could try running it at first and if it doesn'T work or is not stable just solder another connector in it's place.
The connector is standardised for ages, that picure comes from a Pentium 4 board!
Just get an extension cable or a used, cheap (broken) board as donor.