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EATX_12V power connectors

Jbonnett
Level 8
Hi All,
Sorry if this has been asked already, do you need to connect both 8 and 4 pin EATX_12V connectors?

Thank you for the replies in advance.
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8 REPLIES 8

Onimax
Level 8
Never tried it but it _should_ work with only the 8 pin one - at least at stock settings.
Once you are overclocking (which is the very reason this board exists) you need all connectors to provide stable current to the CPU.

If your PSU does not have the required connectors I suggest you get a new PSU instead of unintentionally frying your board, PSU or CPU altogether. 😉

Onimax wrote:
Never tried it but it _should_ work with only the 8 pin one - at least at stock settings.
Once you are overclocking (which is the very reason this board exists) you need all connectors to provide stable current to the CPU.

If your PSU does not have the required connectors I suggest you get a new PSU instead of unintentionally frying your board, PSU or CPU altogether. 😉


Yeah I've overclocked on just the 8 pin, I was just wondering why the 4 pin exists too and whether it would fry the board if I connected the two.
I've also got the Corsair HX1000i so should be fine.

Jbonnett wrote:
Yeah I've overclocked on just the 8 pin, I was just wondering why the 4 pin exists too and whether it would fry the board if I connected the two.
I've also got the Corsair HX1000i so should be fine.


Nate152 wrote:
Hi Jbonnett

You can connect both the 8 pin and 4 pin cpu power cables, it won't hurt anything.

The 4 pin is for extreme overclocking.



Yep, in fact it's more likely to fubar without connecting everything 😄

Nate152
Moderator
Hi Jbonnett

You can connect both the 8 pin and 4 pin cpu power cables, it won't hurt anything.

The 4 pin is for extreme overclocking.

jrmcdou
Level 10
I always connect both power connectors to ensure stability regardless of clocks. Better to be safe than sorry.
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Jbonnett
Level 8
What do you class as extreme overclocking? Anything more than 4.4GHz as it is more than the presets?

Jbonnett wrote:
What do you class as extreme overclocking? Anything more than 4.4GHz as it is more than the presets?



If using a 5960X or a 6950X at speeds over 4.3Ghz, I'd use both connectors.

Nate152
Moderator
I would say extreme overclocking falls into liquid nitrogen cooling/overclocking.

As Omnimax and jrmcdou says it's best to populate the 4 pin cpu power cable too to ensure stability.