[Solved] Help a newb connect his power supply cables to the motherboard?
November 20th, 2018
I am mostly a software kind of guy, and this is my first time building a computer. I saved lots of money, did lots of research, and picked my parts.
So far, I’ve installed my CPU & Fan to the Motherboard, and mounted them to the case. Now it’s time to install my Power Supply. Mounting it to the case is easy. The problem comes when I have to connect the cables. The manuals don’t explain the purpose of these cables or provide “step-by-step” instructions.
I’ve been searching for over an hour, but can’t get a clear idea of what I’m supposed to do. So I’m hoping someone can help me here.
Hardware
Motherboard: MSI Z97 XPOWER AC
Motherboard Manual: http://ca.msi.com/support/mb/Z97_XPOWER_AC.html#down-manual
Power Supply: Seasonic X-1250
Power Supply Manual: http://www.seasonicusa.com/images/BrochureManuals/New_X_Manual.pdf
Problem
On page 29 of my motherboard manual, it shows 4 different power connection slots (JPWR1, JPWR2, JPWR3, JPWR4). Unfortunately, it doesn’t explain what goes in them. On page 59 & 61 of my Power Supply manual, there is listing of all the key cables.
I think the “Mainboard 24/20 Pin” cable goes into the “JPWR1” slot.
– So I am mostly confused about the other slots (JPWR2, JPWR3, JPWR4). – Also, it’s confusing that there are two CPU cables called “CPU 8/4 Pin” & “CPU 8 Pin”.
Can anyone help me?
You only need to connect 2 cables..
1- JPWR1 (The big connector)
2- JPWR4 (The 8 pin connector)
Yes there is JPWR2 and JPWR3..Those are optional in case your power supply don’t have any 8 pin connector..
,
I’m looking at the manual…
“JPWR4” in the manual only has 6 holes. It is located above the PCI slots.
“JPWR2” in the manual has 8 holes. It is located above the CPU area.
Perhaps you meant that I should use “JPWR2”?
…
As a follow-up, do you have any idea why the Power Supply company provided two different CPU cables?
“Cable #1” & “Cable #2” both have a side that is an 8-hole plug (marked “CPU”).
But on their other sides, they differ.
On “Cable #1”, the other side has a 12-hole plug (where 8 holes have gold trim, while the remaining 4 have black trim).
On “Cable #2”, the other side has two 4-hole plugs that are seperated by a slight distance (maybe they come together to form an 8-hole plug?).
Well..I didn’t look closely at both..I just downloaded the Motherboard manual..
The bottom line is..Motherboard and power supply supplier Give alternatives…
You only need one connected to either JPWR2, JPWR3 or JPWR4..Which ever fits from your Power supply..
EPS12V(CPU) 8-pin to JPWR2.
1. Don’t worry about the 6pin connection on top of your pci-e slots. it’s there for 2-3 way sli/crossfire & overclocking them. if you only have 1 gfx card don’t worry about it
2. use the EPS +12 connection on the top of your motherboard. if you want to overclock your cpu (your mobo looks like a good overclocker given the amount of vrms and mofsets) plug in the additional 4 pin as well
3. always plug in the ATX 24pin on the side
edit: followup on your question about different plugs from the PSU:
1. cable 1 is meant for the EPS12V 8 pin connection. higher number of plugs on the other side means better power delivery hence better overclocking performance. (more amps goes into it->higher power output) recommended to plug into high-end mobos
2. cable 2 4+4ATX is meant for smaller mobos like mini-itx with 4-pin CPU connections(this one usually has less amp output). you won’t be needing it. Because the PSU already have a dedicated 8pin EPS.
3. if you really want to plug in the 8pin AND 4pin on the top of the mobo you must overclock it to 5ghz :laugh: kidding. just so you know there’s no need to plug in both unless you overclock it crazy
You can plug in both the 8 and 4 pin connectors on top of the mobo.
However they are very close and may not fit…The 8 pin is the important one.
Now you can break away one of those 6/8 pin PCI express connectors and plug the 6 pins into the connector at the top of the PCI slots.
The rest of those 6/8 pin connectors will be plugged directly into the video card/s, as required.
Thank you so much guys.
After comparing responses here, and other sources, I’ve figured this out on a basic level.
Also, just a concluding note. When I last described “Cable #1”, I described it as a 12-hole plug that had the last 4 holes with “black trim”. Upon closer inspection, the last 4 holes actually look empty. I figure this is because on my Power Supply, the secondary CPU port is called “PCI-E/CPU” (hence, the port needs to accomodate different types of cables). So “Cable #1” only has 12 holes because it has to fit into that “PCI-E/CPU” port (where, only the remaining 8 holes that have the “gold trim” are actually used). This information is relevant to the scenario SerialKiller described…where MotherBoard ports “JPWR2” & “JPWR3” need be used to provide power to “overclock it crazy”. In such a scenario, “Cable #1” would go into the “PCI-E/CPU” port of the Power Supply & into the “JPWR2” port of the Motherboard. And “Cable #2” would go into the “CPU” port of the Power Supply & into the “JPWR3” port of the Motherboard (you’d seperate the two 4 hole bunches from each other, and only plug one of them in).
This would result in what SerialKiller described as “overclock it to 5ghz :laugh: kidding”.
Again, so much thanks for your guys’ help!
Just be careful that you don’t mix up the plugs for the CPU (+12V Power connector) (top of the mobo)with the ones for the PCI-E (PCI Express Connector)
As you will see from both the PSU and the Mobo diagrams, both those type of plug are wired differently.
They would not normally fit properly anyhow, but peoples have been known to force them..
This could cause a 100Amp S/C on the 12V and possible meltdown if the poor PSU don’t detect it in time.
Hi guys, I have a follow-up question about my Seasonic PSU “PCI-E cables”.
The way my PCI-E cables are designed is…
There’s one end which is a single cable with a 12 hole connector…that goes into the PCI-E port on my power supply.
But then the other end splits out into two different cables, with each having a sort of 6/2 connector.
So regarding the end that splits out into two different cables…
Can each be used on different PCI-E devices?
Or is it the case that because my PSU has 3 PCI-E ports (and 3 of the cables I described)…that only 3 PCI-E devices can be powered?
You can use all the cables, no worries.
To even things out you should split up the load..
If you have two video cards, then connect each one to a different main feed..this is where the big current draws are.
For you mobo PCI-e and other odds and sods, just use what’s convenient.
Should be able to keep the house warm in winter with that PSU
Thank you !