Different power supply connector on motherboard?

[David]

Hi,

I've just ordered an Asrock K7V88 (yes I know, cheap and cheerfull but it's
all I can afford atm). It comes with the AMD XP3200+. I downloaded the
manual for the board and it says there is a small 4 pin connector which is
square (as well as the usual atx power supply connector) that plugs into the
motherboard. My present power supply is a good one (Antec) and I didn't want
the extra expense of changing it. Can anyone shed any light on this new
connector? Is this the norm now? Can I solder a female molex onto the
motherboard and connect a normal lead to it? and if so what colours do I put
where?

I really hope someone can help,

David

 

[DaveW]

No, it's not that easy. Some of the circuit traces are down in the
multi-level PCB board. Youe need to buy a P4 style ATX power supply.

 

[kony]

Hi,

I've just ordered an Asrock K7V88 (yes I know, cheap and cheerfull but it's
all I can afford atm). It comes with the AMD XP3200+. I downloaded the
manual for the board and it says there is a small 4 pin connector which is
square (as well as the usual atx power supply connector) that plugs into the
motherboard. My present power supply is a good one (Antec) and I didn't want
the extra expense of changing it. Can anyone shed any light on this new
connector? Is this the norm now? Can I solder a female molex onto the
motherboard and connect a normal lead to it? and if so what colours do I put
where?

I really hope someone can help,

The 4-pin, 12V connector is now standard on ATX 2.03 PSU.
Since it seems your Antec is pre-2.03, you'd need an adapter
that converts 12V (usually yellow wire) from one or two of
the 4-pin molex connectors on your PSU, to the square 2x2
4-pin on your board.

Soldering for this is a bit excessive... it's possible, just
to the left of that 4-pin plug there should be an inductor,
you'd need to solder wires to the bottom of the connector or
that inductor leg nearest the connector, but since adapters
and/or newer power supplies do exist, and since you'd still
need the spare 4-pin female molex connector (or two, the
spec calls for a pair of 12V leads and a pair of grounds,
though you could get by without the grounds).

Instead i suggest buying a new power supply or one of the
typical adapters like this,
http://www.abccables.com/cb-psci-2v.html

 

[Pen]

NO, just buy an adapter and use a spare drive power cable. The
4 pin Molex is for +12v and ground.

 

[David]

Thankyou to all that have posted help. Very much appreciated!

I'll look around locally for an adapter otherwise buy another power supply.

David

 

[Guest]

I've just ordered an Asrock K7V88
It comes with the AMD XP3200+. I downloaded the
manual for the board and it says there is a small
4 pin connector which is square (as well as the
usual atx power supply connector) that plugs into the
motherboard. My present power supply is a good one
(Antec) and I didn't want the extra expense of changing
it. Can anyone shed any light on this new connector? Is
this the norm now? Can I solder a female molex onto the
motherboard and connect a normal lead to it? and if so
what colours do I put where?

That square 4-pin connector provides extra +12V lines because that
motherboard powrs the CPU from the +12V and can draw too much power
from the single +12V wire on the larger connector and make it melt or
burn (an XP3200+ is almost guaranteed to do this). On the 4-pin
connector, the 2 pins next to the clip or hook are for yellow +12V
wires, and the 2 pins far from the clip are for black ground wires.
This connector on the power supply is a Molex #39-01-2040, but if you
solder wires directly to the motherboard, be sure to secure them
mechanically (glue is OK), in case a solder joint breaks. A single
#16 or #18 yellow wire and a single ground wire should be adequate.

 

[David Wang]

You can buy this 4-pin power converter
http://www.directron.com/p4atx.html