Not enough connectors

[Michael Hurtle]

I have a friend im building a PC for, but his CPU requires an 8-pin CPU connector but his power supply on has an available 4-pin.
My question is, will i be able to buy a Molex - 4 Pin with the other 4 pin he has? Or does he even need the total of 8-Pin at all?

Here are the Specs
CPU - FX 6300
MOBO - MSI 970A-G43 ATX AM3+
GPU - GTX 960 EVGA
PSU - some 400 watt PSU

Note: he does have enough wattage for all of his hardware

 

[Ezo Legendz]

dude just get a decent PSU its a very imprtant piece of hardware you dont want bad power going through your pc

 

[avenseth12]

I would buy a better PSU that has the connector and wont fail and possibly destroy your friends PC
Something like this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G28N5254

 

[DSzymborski]

400W for a 960 is as low as I'd go. That is, if it was a rock solid, dependable power supply. "Some 400 watt PSU" doesn't fit the bill. Generally speaking, a power supply missing a key connector is missing that for a very good reason.

 

[geofelt]

An old psu may well have only a single 4 pin cpu connector.
Exactly what make/model is it?

Two thoughts:

1. normally a motherboard may not need more than the 4 pin connector. More might only be needed for heavy overclocking.
You could simply try it and see how you do.

2. If your psu is of adequate amperage(not wattage) then a adapter would be fine.

3. If your psu is a cheap one, plan on replacing it regardless.
A cheap psu does not have the protective circuitry to keep from damaging all your parts if it fails under load.
Here is one quality list, see if your psu is on it:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware/f/135081/t/45344.aspx?Redirected=true

 

[synphul]

I'd opt for a better power supply as well. 400w is pretty low and doesn't give a lot of headroom. The fact it only has a 4 pin cpu power connector is a bit concerning, I've had power supplies that included the 8 pin cpu connector a good 6-7yrs ago. No real reason for any fairly recent psu's not to have it.

 

[Michael Hurtle]

An old psu may well have only a single 4 pin cpu connector.
Exactly what make/model is it?

Two thoughts:

1. normally a motherboard may not need more than the 4 pin connector. More might only be needed for heavy overclocking.
You could simply try it and see how you do.

2. If your psu is of adequate amperage(not wattage) then a adapter would be fine.

3. If your psu is a cheap one, plan on replacing it regardless.
A cheap psu does not have the protective circuitry to keep from damaging all your parts if it fails under load.
Here is one quality list, see if your psu is on it:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware/f/135081/t/45344.aspx?Redirected=true

well we put it together and ran some tests.
The PC never shut down, and he doesn't need to OC considering he got twice the framerate he'd wanted
but in the near future ill have him upgrade it just to be safe.
this was the PSU : http://www.solidgearusa.com/en/product_4/39/

 

[jsmithepa]

Now that you have it in, run some stress test on it and if a couple hours later, it hasn't shut down, you are good to go for now.

 

[geofelt]

By comparison, your 400w psu can deliver 216w in the +12v rails where a modern cpu needs it.
By comparison a good quality Seasonic 400w psu can deliver 360w.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151076
The risk with a cheap psu is that it will not nave the protective circuitry to keep from damaging all your parts if it fails under load.

I think you are OK for now, but be careful.