Power Supply Question

B

BrianDP1977

New Member
Does a computer PSU need to be plugged into the motherboard to work?

I have a SilverStone 1500W PSU (the one without an ON switch on the back). I wanted to test run my cooling system before I plugged the unit into the motherboard. As such, the only things I have plugged into the power unit are the case fans and the water cooling system. However, when I plug the power supply into the wall, nothing (to include the PSU fan) powers up.

How do you go about testing a cooling system without plugging the power unit into the motherboard? I ONLY want to power up the peripheral cooling fans, fan controllers, and water cooling pumps.
 
BrianDP1977 said:
Does a computer PSU need to be plugged into the motherboard to work?

I have a SilverStone 1500W PSU (the one without an ON switch on the back). I wanted to test run my cooling system before I plugged the unit into the motherboard. As such, the only things I have plugged into the power unit are the case fans and the water cooling system. However, when I plug the power supply into the wall, nothing (to include the PSU fan) powers up.

How do you go about testing a cooling system without plugging the power unit into the motherboard? I ONLY want to power up the peripheral cooling fans, fan controllers, and water cooling pumps.
Click to expand...
This link will give you your answer.
http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/196/1
Do it at your own risk.
 
You can plug the 24pin one in and leave the ATX 4 pin/ EPS 8 pin connector out. this will power the board but not the CPU so it won't boot and you can test your cooling
 
dave1701 said:
Doesn't the CPU sometimes work with out the 4-pin connected?
Click to expand...

On older motherboards (Some AMD 64 and before, and pre P4 processors), there wasn't an extra CPU power cable, the CPU would be powered by the 20/24 pin mobo connector. On these boards, a 4 pin isn't required, so will work without it, however, all CPUs after that needed the 4 pin cable (and more recently someneed 8 pin too). Without it, the system won't boot, because the PU doesn't have enough power.

It is like trying to use a video card that need a PCIe power cable, without the cable, you will get a message at post saying it has encountered an error because the power connector isn't in, so can't continue to boot
 
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