Is the 12V extra power plug needed?

[MSIC]

Apologies if this is kind of a repeat post, but i wanted to ask about this specific issue (following from this post).

Do you need a 12V power plug, in addition to the 24 pin plug?

I know you ought to, but with an Athlon 64 3200+, is it needed?

[Clunk]

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/show...ight=psu+avoid

here mate, this might give you an idea about the psu that you are using.

and yes, you should connect the 12v connector.

[Skinleech]

Agreed. Athlons prior to XP didn't use them (at least the ones I built), but the 64's do. Think Pentiums use the extra 4 pin connector too.

[Golden Dragoon]

There are at least some Athlon XP boards, and possibly a few normal Athlon boards that require it. Sometimes some Athlon XP boards would run without the 12V connector, but I have never tried running an Athlon 64 board without the connector, simply because all power supplies come with it now, so there is no reason to try it without.
I can't imagine any situation where removing it would increase stability as the extra connector is supposed to deliver voltage right to the processor (going though all the relevent circitry obviously, 12V direct to a processor would kill it fast )

[Clstrphbc_donut]

I got a replacement PSU for one that blew, and I rushed to put it in as I needed do use the PC. With having a 120mm fan on the cpu, I couldn't clearly see that I hadn't connected the 4 pin plug.

The PC wouldn't boot.

So, no, A64's won't work without the 4pin connector.

[fat jez]

The Abit NF7-S had the 4 pin connector specifically to improve stability, as it meant the voltage regulators had their own dedicated supply that hadn't been through all the power circuitry before it got to the CPU.

Cheers,
Stephen

[-ChEM-]

my old epox board has the 4pin connector, never tried it without

its the same as the dfi boards now requiring an 8-pin EPS12V connector, its supposed to power dual cpu systems but they use it to give extra power to the first cpu

[MSIC]

Hmm, well the machine turns on without the 4 pin power lead but havent hooked up a monitor yet to see if it boots properly.

Very concerning to see that DFI list, the Aspire PSU really isnt liked.....
May be better off forgetting the whole Aspire case and buying a no-name £25 case and PSU from Scan for increased reliability LOL.

Thanks for the feedback everyone - i will post back if the machine does or does not POST without the 4 pin lead in.

[fat jez]

The PSU is the one part of the build you do NOT scrimp on. Not unless you want to run the risk of it going pop one day and taking something expensive with it.

You wouldn't put a Lada engine in a Ferrari chassis, would you?

Cheers,
Stephen

[JimmyBoy]

You wouldn't put a Lada engine in a Ferrari chassis, would you?

lol even hearin the word lada makes me smirk

but yer, i dont think ur system will turn on without it, i know mine wont

[MSIC]

Just to be clear here (as i feel like i'm in the firing line now) i did not "scrimp" on the PSU. It came with the case, the Aspire X-Qpack, which a number of reviews regarded quite highly. None of them worry about the PSU, and XtremeComputing even states

Despite it’s weedy size, it still packs 420 watts of power, a mirror gloss finish, and fully braided cables, including a 24pin ATX lead and a SATA plug. If you sacrificed the CD drive bays, you might be able to fit a full-sized PSU in here, but I don’t seriously think it would be necessary to replace this one.

So why did none of these geniuses pick up on the PSU? Well it seems that on re-reading, not one of them actually tests the PSU for stability or anything, they only look at the specs and go "hmm, that's nice". I'm pissed off with my (mates) hardware but i dont consider myself at any fault here....
[/Rant over]

[fat jez]

Just to be clear here (as i feel like i'm in the firing line now) i did not "scrimp" on the PSU.

The only reason I said that was in response to the comment about buying a £25 case and PSU. It was not directed at your original problem

Cheers,
Stephen

[MSIC]

Sorry mate, this bloody machine has me on edge.
I do appreciate the feedback.