Neophyte with a neophyte question

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Laudanum

New Member
New here. I know close to diddly about computers so I have what is probably a dumb question.

I want to be thorough so please bear with me:

I have a budget desktop mainly only used for encoding dvds to MKV for storing on HDD and playing with network media player on TV.
The computer came with a lower end AMD Phenom Quad core (95 watt), 1TB HDD and DVD drive. Onboard ATI graphics. I installed a second internal HDD and also a second DVD. Stock PSU was only 250 watts which I thought was pushing it in the first place. So with the added HDD and DVD I decided to upgrade the PSU. I bought and ULTRA 650 watt. Not that I needed one that big but it was best price to power and I may add a dedicated graphics card later.

Anyway ... the specifics are that The MB has a 24 pin socket. The stock PSU had a 20 pin connector so bottom 4 pins on the 24 pin socket were empty. I installed the new PSU and only used 20 pins of the connector ... it has the 4 pin breakaway which I didnt use. So should I plug that unused 4 pin connector into the open 4 pins of the MB socket eventhough they were left open with the stock 20 pin connector of the stock PSU?
Or maybe I should ask if it is "ok" or even "better" to plug them in. I have read conflicting info on the web that the 4 pins are basically paralleled with 4 of the pins on the 20 pin connector to supply more stable voltage/current to the PCIe socket. I Dont know if this is true.

So, should I go ahead and plug in the 4 pin or no?
Advice on that question and any education as to what the extra 4 pins are for is appreciated very much.

Thanks
 
can you post a link to the psu you bought and your motherboard? are you talking about a 4 pin connector other than the cpu one (which is usually also 4 pins)? posting the psu's link will help here...
 
Use the dedicated 4 pin motherboard connector for the 4 pin socket on the motherboard and plug all 24 pins into the motherboard 24 pin connector.
 
diduknowthat said:
Use the dedicated 4 pin motherboard connector for the 4 pin socket on the motherboard and plug all 24 pins into the motherboard 24 pin connector.
Click to expand...

I should have been more clear. The PSU is installed and the computer is working fine. I did know enough to plug the dedicated 4 pin CPU connector into the apporpriate socket. The new supply has that break away 4 pin connector that is attached to the 20 pin connector so it will work with both 20 pin and 24 pin sockets. Since the stock PS only had the 20 pin connector I left the bottom 4 pins open when I installed the new Power Supply.

So ... just to be clear, you are saying to go ahead and plug into all 24 pins, right?

Can you briefly explain what those "extra" 4 pins are for? I cant find consistent info on the net and would like to make this a learning experience as well if possible.

Thanks again and thanks to both of you for the very fast replies. I appreciate it.
 
ok so just to be absolutely clear:
1) your computer is currently functioning.
2) your current power supply has a 20 pin connector and nothing else hanging off of it
3) your motherboard has a 24 pin connector
correct?

you should be fine with the 20 pin connector in the 24 pin slot, leaving the other 4 pins open. you can also buy an adapter for it, but you should be fine as it is (might be a good idea for dust though).

i was referencing the 4 pin cpu connector (completely separate from the 20/24 pin motherboard connector). since your computer is working that point is moot.
 
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joh06937 said:
can you post a link to the psu you bought and your motherboard? are you talking about a 4 pin connector other than the cpu one (which is usually also 4 pins)? posting the psu's link will help here...
Click to expand...

No, the 4 pin CPU socket is not an issue, I have that covered. Im talking about the main MB connector. The MB has a 24 pin socket, the stock PSU only plugged into 20 of the 24 pins. The new PSU has a 20pin+4pin connector. THe 4 pin portion can be broken away to use with a 20 pin socket or all 24 pins can be used for a 24 pin socket MB. I simply didnt use the 4 pin portion because the stock PSU only had a 20 pin connector ... so it left 4 pins of the 24 pin MB socket open. Basically Im asking if I should go ahead and occupy all 24 pins or leave 4 open like the stock PSU did.

It's an Ultra LSP 650 watt.
 
Laudanum said:
No, the 4 pin CPU socket is not an issue, I have that covered. Im talking about the main MB connector. The MB has a 24 pin socket, the stock PSU only plugged into 20 of the 24 pins. The new PSU has a 20pin+4pin connector. THe 4 pin portion can be broken away to use with a 20 pin socket or all 24 pins can be used for a 24 pin socket MB. I simply didnt use the 4 pin portion because the stock PSU only had a 20 pin connector ... so it left 4 pins of the 24 pin MB socket open. Basically Im asking if I should go ahead and occupy all 24 pins or leave 4 open like the stock PSU did.

It's an Ultra LSP 650 watt.
Click to expand...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH.... :o

yeah, go ahead and plug all 24 in.

sorry about that :o
 
joh06937 said:
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH.... :o

yeah, go ahead and plug all 24 in.

sorry about that :o
Click to expand...

No reason to be sorry, it's hard to explain things like this on a forum and Im not very good at doing so clearly.

Thanks for the advice.

Now one more related Q if you dont mind ... what do those additional 4 pins do? Is it just redundancy to the PCIe sockets for more stable voltage and current? Or are they for something else?

Thanks again.
 
Laudanum said:
No reason to be sorry, it's hard to explain things like this on a forum and Im not very good at doing so clearly.

Thanks for the advice.

Now one more related Q if you dont mind ... what do those additional 4 pins do? Is it just redundancy to the PCIe sockets for more stable voltage and current? Or are they for something else?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Basically yes, that is what they do.

Looking back, you did explain it clearly. I just read it quickly, so I should apologize :P
 
The extra four pins provide redundant power to the motherboard. If your system is low powered then leaving it unplugged will be fine. However since you have a 24 pin power connector you might as well use it all.
 
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