cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Do I really have to use both the EATX12V_2 plug (4-pin) and EX_PLUG (Molex)?

BrutalAttis
Level 7
Great forums btw, been reading and resolving my own issues but had a question I hope to find help with.

Recently built x99/5930K/M.2 and been absolutely loving it, the M.2 is a crazy good concept.

Question:

I have seen lots of posts about the EATX12V_2 plug (4-pin), but I am still confused.

Do I really have to plug in the EATX12V_2 plug (4-pin) and EX_PLUG (Molex) on my RAMPAGE V?

EX_PLUG (Molex): I currently have x2 GTX780Ti in SLi and I will never run 3 in SLi but will in future move to new x2 GPUs setups.

EATX12V_2 plug (4-pin): My power supply (Corsair RM Series 1000 Watt ATX/EPS 80PLUS - CP-9020062-NA RM1000) does not have the EATX12V_2 plug (4-Pin). Unless I missed it somehow. I rechecked all my cables, it did not come with one. Does this mean I have a crappy PSU? I had thought it was pretty good before I bought it. I do want to start overclocking the CPU though.

My system is currently 100% stable. I only have the EATX12V_1 (8-Pin) and EATXPWR plugged in.

46383

Hardware:

MB: ASUS RAMPAGE V EXTREME, ATX x99 (latest BIOS installed)
CPU: Intel Core i7-5930K (not overclocked) with Corsair H100i cooler
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws 4 series 16GB DDR4 3000 (PC4 24000) F4-3000C15Q-16GRR
OS HD: Plextor M6e Series 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD (PX-G512M6e) (1.05 latest firm ware flashed)
PSU: Corsair RM Series 1000 Watt ATX/EPS 80PLUS - CP-9020062-NA RM1000
GPU: ASUS Graphics Cards GTX780TI-DC2OC-3GD5 (x2) (Lastest Drivers and BIOS)
69,062 Views
17 REPLIES 17

Chino
Level 15
The extra 4 pin connector is optional but it's recommended to populate it if your PSU has the extra cable. Now if you'll be overclocking, it's highly recommended to connect the 4 pin power cable to the header.

Sometimes the 8 pin cable comes in two splitted 4 pin cables.

46384

As for the EX_PLUG, you can do without it since you're using a 2 way SLI configuration.

skypine27
Level 7
I read you don't need the 4 pin MOLEX (D: Easy plug, in your pic) unless you are running multiple graphics cards. You can see from that molex plug position that its likely aimed at sending extra power to the PCI slots, not the CPU. I am using all plugs powered up.

As far as not using EATX12_V2, i guess if you system is stable, then no big deal. I hard a difficult time figuring out the the extra 8 pin cables on my PSU split into 4 pins (like in the pic in the above post). You look at it, and its hard to tell it will beak apart into 2 x 4 pins, I had to use a lot o force to get it to "crack" into the 2 4 pin pieces.
*CPU: Intel 10980XE @ 5.0 ghz (by Core usage) w/ EK monoblock
*Mobo: Asus Rampage VIE
*RAM: 64GB DDR4 3000 G.Skill TridentZ
*Graphics: Gigabite 3090 Waterforce
*Monitor: Dell Alienware AW3418DW @ 120hz
*Storage OS: Samsung SM970 Pro (2TB) Windows 10
*Storage Games Internal: 4TB 850 EVO RAID0
*Storage Extermal: 48TB Raid0 (External USB 3.1 Box)
*Case/PSU: Thermaltake V71 TG/RGB + 3 Rads (120mm, 360mm, 420mm) + Corsair AX1200i PSU

BrutalAttis
Level 7
Thanks all,

As I said I do want to start overclocking, so I want to resolve my 4-pin mystery.

You guys maybe right, I'll check tonight again if there are extra 8-pin cables. I could have dismissed them when rummaging through the pile, if there are, they probably split. Searching the web from work I can see the back of the unit sure has sockets for 8-pin's.

After reading your responses, I also posted on the Corsair forums.

46385

skypine27
Level 7
Brutal:

Im using a corsair ax1200i psu which may be what you are using.

In the cable kit, there was definitely at least 1, possible 2, cables that had the 8 pin tip that "snaps" apart into 2 x 4 pin plugs. It was just very very hard to snap and when you look at it, you can barely see the fine split that indicates it will snap at all.
*CPU: Intel 10980XE @ 5.0 ghz (by Core usage) w/ EK monoblock
*Mobo: Asus Rampage VIE
*RAM: 64GB DDR4 3000 G.Skill TridentZ
*Graphics: Gigabite 3090 Waterforce
*Monitor: Dell Alienware AW3418DW @ 120hz
*Storage OS: Samsung SM970 Pro (2TB) Windows 10
*Storage Games Internal: 4TB 850 EVO RAID0
*Storage Extermal: 48TB Raid0 (External USB 3.1 Box)
*Case/PSU: Thermaltake V71 TG/RGB + 3 Rads (120mm, 360mm, 420mm) + Corsair AX1200i PSU

Awesome, my 8-pin splits into two 4-pins. Thanks all. In my defense it's really not obvious 🙂

BrutalAttis wrote:
Awesome, my 8-pin splits into two 4-pins. Thanks all. In my defense it's really not obvious 🙂


Yeah, I had the same issue. I thought I was screwed and going to try and have to order a new modular cable for my Corsair PSU to fit into the mobo 4 pin. Then I did some googling and discovered the whole 'split the 8 pin' thing. Like many users, I lost the manual a long time ago for my PSU but I still had the bag of unused modular cables. Glad the internet helped the issue.
*CPU: Intel 10980XE @ 5.0 ghz (by Core usage) w/ EK monoblock
*Mobo: Asus Rampage VIE
*RAM: 64GB DDR4 3000 G.Skill TridentZ
*Graphics: Gigabite 3090 Waterforce
*Monitor: Dell Alienware AW3418DW @ 120hz
*Storage OS: Samsung SM970 Pro (2TB) Windows 10
*Storage Games Internal: 4TB 850 EVO RAID0
*Storage Extermal: 48TB Raid0 (External USB 3.1 Box)
*Case/PSU: Thermaltake V71 TG/RGB + 3 Rads (120mm, 360mm, 420mm) + Corsair AX1200i PSU

orcinus
Level 7
I'm using Corsair 1500i. Does it matter where on the PSU itself we connect our 4-pin-ending cable (other end of course)? It usually fits in multiple spots.

orcinus wrote:
I'm using Corsair 1500i. Does it matter where on the PSU itself we connect our 4-pin-ending cable (other end of course)? It usually fits in multiple spots.


I have this PSU. You plug it in wherever it fits and it works fine. Of the top of my head, one of my 8 pin cables is plugged into slot #1 and the other 8 pin cable split apart is plugged into slot #6 which I think is right below slot #1.


And tangent, I really wish this mobo came with 2 8 pin connectors. IMO it's cheaping out to only have 8+4 and it puts 50% more load on the 8 pin connector and limits the max voltage to about 1.5V before it exceeds 50A of current which is all that 8+4 can handle.

dr/owned2 wrote:
I have this PSU. You plug it in wherever it fits and it works fine. Of the top of my head, one of my 8 pin cables is plugged into slot #1 and the other 8 pin cable split apart is plugged into slot #6 which I think is right below slot #1.


And tangent, I really wish this mobo came with 2 8 pin connectors. IMO it's cheaping out to only have 8+4 and it puts 50% more load on the 8 pin connector and limits the max voltage to about 1.5V before it exceeds 50A of current which is all that 8+4 can handle.


I agree 2 x 8 pins if only for the looks. It looks cleaner to have a plug that uses all 8 pins, instead of having to take your 8 pin plug and split it into 2 x 4s, which leaves 1 unused x 4 pin kind of "dangling" next to the slot. (unless you PSU has a dedicated 4 pin plug, which i have not yet seen before).

The old Rampage 3 Extreme brings a tear to my eye. That thing had TWO 8 Pin plugs AND TWO molex plugs. I had all 4 powered up, baby! (the cap on the bottom 8 pin was removable and only there incase the user's PSU only had an extra 4 pin)

*CPU: Intel 10980XE @ 5.0 ghz (by Core usage) w/ EK monoblock
*Mobo: Asus Rampage VIE
*RAM: 64GB DDR4 3000 G.Skill TridentZ
*Graphics: Gigabite 3090 Waterforce
*Monitor: Dell Alienware AW3418DW @ 120hz
*Storage OS: Samsung SM970 Pro (2TB) Windows 10
*Storage Games Internal: 4TB 850 EVO RAID0
*Storage Extermal: 48TB Raid0 (External USB 3.1 Box)
*Case/PSU: Thermaltake V71 TG/RGB + 3 Rads (120mm, 360mm, 420mm) + Corsair AX1200i PSU