PSU Question

A

antoin

Geek Trainee
Running a rig with:
5000+ AMD Athlon 64 x2
4GB Ram
250 GB HDD
8800GT 512MB
Abit AN78GS MOBO
550W PSU

When I run the Abit EQ program to have a look at what my voltages and temperatures are it starts to Beep incessantly and the 3.3V rail says that it's value is 3.26. With a warning sign beside it. When I play Crysis warhead it sometimes cuts off what looks to be power to the graphics because my screen goes black saying it has no signal - so I suspect this is my PSU.
Also, on the ATX12V1 power socket on the motherboard there are 8 pinholes and my PSU only has 4 to fill it, my manual says that's fine but 8 is recommended, this have any relation to this at all do you think?
Should I get a new PSU? If so, could someone recommend my one?
 
My PSU also came with a 4-pin power cable and my motherboard required a 8-pin. I inserted my 4-pin cable and my PC didn't start.

I ordered a 4-pin to 8-pin adapter and plugged it in. My PC finally booted with no problems. Strange thing is 2 days later i removed the adapter and only had my PSU's 4-pin cable attached and it still booted. :dry: Strange indeed.

I read later on that you don't need the full 8-pin's. Some motherboards simply use 8-pin's and some use 4. An extra 4-pins won't add any power or anything like that so my best guess is that you have a faulty PSU.
Whats the make?
 
I read that if you use the 8 pins it provides better stability and meets the 240VA protection limits whatever they are!
 
Exactly!: whatever they are

It doesn't really affect anything. You could get an 4-8pin adapter for cheap and test it out its worth a shot.
 
Yep, but I've ordered the new power supply anyway, I'll let you's know how that goes, better gettin a better one anyway because before long the one I have might die and take everything I have with it!
 
scorps65 said:
Exactly!: whatever they are

It doesn't really affect anything. You could get an 4-8pin adapter for cheap and test it out its worth a shot.
Click to expand...

Its an overclocking feature, you can send more current and voltage via having more wire to do so.
 
Usually, those 8-pin power connectors do accept a 4-pin, but you have to plug it in on certain pins. However, covering your bases isn't a bad idea.

When it comes to power, it's better to think of the connectors as being there for a reason, not optional.

It makes me think of DFI's NF4 LanParty boards, in that they had 4 power connectors. The people who had problems with power were usually affected with one of two problems: not a strong enough PSU or not plugging in all the connectors. If someone is designing a multilayer motherboard, you can bet that the design isn't being done by a hobo they found on the street.

I don't want to sound like I'm beating you over the head, but if someone has designed a product and tested it extensively, I would wager that they would (or should) know more about it than the end user.
 
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