[SOLVED] Using an 8 pin for the 4 pin CPU power.

[Aspacehuk]

Hello guys and girls,

Can you use an 8 pin power connector for the 4 pin cpu power? (Leaving the other 4 on the side not plugged in) or do you need a 8 pin (4+4) cable (Which I will need to go buy). Obv would like to boot this baby up today if using the first method is safe.

Thanks in adv!
Ash

 

[jeremyj_83]

Hello guys and girls,

Can you use an 8 pin power connector for the 4 pin cpu power? (Leaving the other 4 on the side not plugged in) or do you need a 8 pin (4+4) cable (Which I will need to go buy). Obv would like to boot this baby up today if using the first method is safe.

Thanks in adv!
Ash

How does your PSU not have a 4+4 cable?

 

[DSzymborski]

Let's get a picture of this connector. There are multiple sources of an 8-pin power connector; if this is an 8-pin PCIE connector, if you can even get it into the socket, you may no longer have a PC afterwards.

 

[RealBeast]

Hello guys and girls,

Can you use an 8 pin power connector for the 4 pin cpu power? (Leaving the other 4 on the side not plugged in) or do you need a 8 pin (4+4) cable (Which I will need to go buy). Obv would like to boot this baby up today if using the first method is safe.

Thanks in adv!
Ash

Yes, you can use an 8 pin CPU power connector in a 4 pin CPU power socket if there is no obstruction for the four unused pins. The 4 and 8 pin have all 12V on one side and all ground on the other and both latch the same direction with the 12V towards the latch side. I've done it many times and it has no potential for damage.

edit: just DO NOT confuse PCIe video power with CPU power connectors.

 

[Aspacehuk]

We do not have a 4+4.

https://ibb.co/mDMk0qM (CPU power connecter used for the old ATX board)

https://ibb.co/3MgywSr (Same 8 pin in the 4 pin slot)

 

[Aspacehuk]

If the power output on all 8 pins is the same it should work fine no?

 

[DSzymborski]

What is this exact PSU?

 

[Aspacehuk]

OCZ 600

 

[DSzymborski]

If the power output on all 8 pins is the same it should work fine no?

No, the PCIE connector pinout is very different than the CPU connector pinout.

 

[RealBeast]

Look at the fourth row down HERE to see the two CPU power cables side by side. Yellow wires are 12V, black are ground. Red, not used in that socket/connector are 5V.

 

[Aspacehuk]

Yeah that isn't the PCIE connector.

 

[Aspacehuk]

It wouldn't have fit into the cpu power connecter if it was.

 

[jeremyj_83]

OCZ 600

If that is an OCZ ModXStream Pro you should have these connectors:
1 x Main connector (20+4Pin)1 x 12V(P4)1 x 12V(8Pin)4 x Peripheral6 x SATA2 x Floppy2 x PCI-E

However, that PSU more than a decade old at this point. You should not be using that in a computer in 2020.

 

[RealBeast]

If the power output on all 8 pins is the same it should work fine no?

It is not the same on all 8 -- four are 12V and four are ground. But they are analogous to the four pin with two 12V and 2 ground -- both having the power on the latch side. So yes, in that sense they are the same.

PCIe power on the other hand has power pins where the ground would be so those are not interchangeable.

 

[RealBeast]

It wouldn't have fit into the cpu power connecter if it was.

You should always attach connectors to anything with the power off because if they are held in close proximity you will get an arc jumping across. But yes they are keyed differently and safe to attempt when PSU is not connected.

 

[Aspacehuk]

Good news everyone, it booted up fine. Special thanks to [B]RealBeast[/B] for your knowledge on power, jeremyj_83 for your observation about the PSU (Didn't realise how old it was) and DSzymborski thanks for the schooling on the PCI vs CPU 8 pin power. I will go ahead and buy a new psu for the future. 👍

 

[jeremyj_83]

Good news everyone, it booted up fine. Special thanks to [B]RealBeast[/B] for your knowledge on power, jeremyj_83 for your observation about the PSU (Didn't realise how old it was) and DSzymborski thanks for the schooling on the PCI vs CPU 8 pin power. I will go ahead and buy a new psu for the future. 👍

You're welcome. Let us know if you want any recommendations on quality PSUs.