Question Can I use my PSU's 8-pin CPU connector on the motherboard's 4-pin connector ?

ayeooo444

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I am upgrading and I got an ASRock 450M Micro ATX motherboard.
I had no idea they use a 4-pin CPU connector whereas my PSU's CPU connector is an 8-pin.
Can i use half of the 8-pin to connect to the motherboard without it frying anything?
A lot of people said its fine but I'm not sure if I have to buy an adapter?
 
Do you have a link to the motherboard there are a couple with similar names. All the ones I found photos of have 8 pin connections.

It is rather uncommon to only use 4 pin connectors.

That is exactly why you can split the 8 pin connector. Pretty much what they did as modern cpu needed more power they just added 4 extra pins, but to allow use of older boards you can physically separate it.

The power stuff is designed to prevent you from doing things wrong. Unless you would apply a lot of force you generally can't plug something into the wrong slot.
 
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Do you have a link to the motherboard there are a couple with similar names. All the ones I found photos of have 8 pin connections.
Probably one of these:
B450M-HDV R4.0
B450M-HDV

my PSU's CPU connector is an 8-pin.
Can i use half of the 8-pin to connect to the motherboard without it frying anything?
What model PSU are you using.
Sometimes PSUs come with EPS12V connector in 4+4pin form.
Then you can simply split it and use only 4pin part.

617yERIU1QL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg


Or you can use EPS12V 8pin to ATX 4pin adapter.

71gvif3NnjL.jpg
 
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ayeooo444

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Feb 12, 2022
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Do you have a link to the motherboard there are a couple with similar names. All the ones I found photos of have 8 pin connections.

It is rather uncommon to only use 4 pin connectors.

That is exactly why you can split the 8 pin connector. Pretty much what they did as modern cpu needed more power they just added 4 extra pins, but to allow use of older boards you can physically separate it.

The power stuff is designed to prevent you from doing things wrong. Unless you would apply a lot of force you generally can't plug something into the wrong slot.
Even in unsplittable 8 pin form, you should be able to plug in one half.
The pins are keyed so you can't go wrong if you don't force anything.
Probably one of these:
B450M-HDV R4.0
B450M-HDV


What model PSU are you using.
Sometimes PSUs come with EPS12V connector in 4+4pin form.
Then you can simply split it and use only 4pin part.

617yERIU1QL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg


Or you can use EPS12V 8pin to ATX 4pin adapter.

71gvif3NnjL.jpg

The exact motheboard model is the ASRock B450M-HDV R4.0
The PSU is Thermaltake Smart BX1 Bronze 650w and it doesn't have a splittable 8-pin.
It only has one CPU connector and it's an unsplittable 8-pin.
I was thinking about just using half of it but I was just afraid it would fry my motherboard, so i can do that?
 

ayeooo444

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Feb 12, 2022
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Even in unsplittable 8 pin form, you should be able to plug in one half.
The pins are keyed so you can't go wrong if you don't force anything.
Wouldnt the extra voltage from the other 4 pins fry my motherboard? Its not splittable.
 
power supply is thermaltake bx1 bronze 650w it doesnt have a split 8 pin it only has 1 cpu connector and its an unsplittable 8 pin
Double check it.
Thermaltake support site and reviews say - it's a splittable 4+4pin connector.
May be you're looking at the 8-pin PCIE connector instead?

If it's indeed unsplittable, then use adapter shown in post #3.
 
Wouldnt the extra voltage from the other 4 pins fry my motherboard? Its not splittable.
There is no extra voltage. All the connections are ground or 12 volts. There are just more wires so it can carry more total power. Your pc will only use as much power as it needs.

The reason it is keyed is so it only fits one way to ensure that the wires that are 12 volts and the wires that are ground go to the proper places.