925xe Motherboards

In article <20041128225929.21604.00001117 DeleteThis @mb-m11.aol.com>, caecina DeleteThis @aol.com
(Caecina) wrote:

 > Do they require 24-pin connectors? I've heard no mention of this, anywhere.
 > Specifically, the new 'Fata1ity' board.

Boards with PCI Express slots need more power. This was supposed to
reduce the need for those "aux" power connectors, for video cards and
the like. Always download the manual for whatever you plan on buying,
or find a review (like on anandtech), where there are pictures to be
had.

The 20 pin ATX power connector is a subset of the 24 pin one. You
can plug the 20 pin connector into the 24, and then you are missing
four pins worth of power. The most important extra pin on the 24 pin
power connector, is a second +12V power pin. The 20 pin
has only one +12V pin, and depending on how much power your PCI
Express video card is drawing, that pin may be loaded to its
6A limit. Using the 24 pin connector gives room for 12A to flow,
and that current is exclusive of the current being used by the
processor and flowing through a 2x2 or 2x4 processor power plug.

If you feel the video card you are using in the PCI Express video
card slot is not "top of the line", then plugging the 20 pin
connector of your old power supply in, may work. If you are building
a gaming machine with the hottest video card money can buy, then
spend some extra on a new power supply with 24 pin connector, for
the piece of mind. Otherwise, you may find the plastic over top of
a certain pin on the 20 pin connector turns brown from the heat.
Eventually, that could lead to refusal to POST (no video), when the
contact becomes resistive, brittle, and useless.

If you are planning on buying some other SLI capable rig, then
that will put you in an entirely new power supply shopping domain.
Use all the connectors you can get for that one.

HTH,
Paul<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->