Power Supply 20-24 pin

[turgid]

I have a nice thermaltake 480w power supply but it only has a 20 pin motherboard connnecter and I now have a motherboard with a 24-pin connecter.
I was wondering if there would be any potential problem problem in just buying a 20-24pin converter or if there is a more substantial difference difference in the new connecter type other than the superficial. I don't wan't to fork out on a new power supply but I don't want all my nice new kit melting in 6 months time.
Musing replies would be nice but hard facts better.

[RavenNight]

Well my friend was in the same boat and he's been using a 20-24 pin adapter happily for about six months now, as far as I know they're fine.

[Koolpc]

For the sake of it i would sell your existing PSU and buy a Seasonic 500w. This has a 24pin connector and is an ace PSU. If you are going to worry about using an adapter then get a new PSU mate.

[Rohan]

Using the 20-pin connector on a 24-pin motherboard is fine, I've done it myself and it was stable. I wouldn't recommend using a 20-24pin adaptor, I hear they do more harm than good.

[Rhyth]

^^what he said^^

[mrbanana]

Currently using a 20/24 pin adaptor on a silverstone 460W psu and an Abit an8 with an amd 3800 x2, a cheap Nvidia 6200 graphics card and two hdds, without any problems.

[turgid]

thanks for the info, I'll see if I can catch my dad in a generous mood whilst i'm home and get a new psu. Otherwise the adapter will have to do.

[Rhyth]

The mother board should run fine with a 20pin atx lead mate? just leave pins 11,12,23 and 24 un-connected, though I'd refere to your own mother board manual first. If you lost it it's probably available online

[aidanjt]

Its not always needed, depends on the motherboard. Although even when it isn't needed, the extra current helps stability.

[turgid]

Its not always needed, depends on the motherboard. Although even when it isn't needed, the extra current helps stability.

I don't know much about electronics so I'll have to ask if the adapter would work in parallel(?), as in draw more current or if it spreads the charge. I guess a simpler way to put that would be to ask if the adapter has any theoretical difference to a regular 24pin connecter.

as for the adventurous just stick it in idea it's not that I don't trust your advice but i'd have to drown myself in a river of beer if i bought all this stuff and blew it up for the sake of a £1.75 adapter.

[aidanjt]

I don't know much about electronics so I'll have to ask if the adapter would work in parallel(?), as in draw more current or if it spreads the charge. I guess a simpler way to put that would be to ask if the adapter has any theoretical difference to a regular 24pin connecter.

It depends on the PSU, but generally no, the adapter will surfice as long as your old PSU will provide enough current, if its a fairly new PSU it will do so easily.

[merlin2001]

not sure how helpful this is - but if you have a new m/board to get s939 and PCI-E support (like i did), you may be better off returning the new board and getting the ASRock Dual SATA as it is designed for 20pin PSU's.