Why Does My Motherboard Have Two CPU Power? Latest Info In 2022

There are 18x 75-amp power stages in total. Without both EPS connectors, the board may not post. So, to run the motherboard, you’ll need both.

Users only want one of the EPS 8-pin connectors for CPU power in most cases, but in most other cases where the motherboard has two 8pin or an 8 + 4pin arrangement, you should plug CPUs both in.

Some people believe that the extra 8 or 4 pin plugs are only for overclocking. Still, if you don’t intend to supercharge, you should attach them because there could be a particular motherboard stipulation that, if not met, could cause problems, including a no boot condition.

Do I Use Both CPU Power Headers?

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It’s best to use both CPU power headers for the CPU if the motherboard has two. But in most of the cases, the 4-pin and 8-pin CPU power headers do not need to be plugged in simultaneously.

Only use the 4 pins if you’re doing excessive overclocking, such as with LN2. Otherwise, the 8-pin connector will provide all of the necessary power.

If you do not have any two 8 pin EPS cables, thus many boards and CPUs will work with only one connected. However, if your PSU has enough 8-pin EPS cables, connect both.

What Is The 4 Pin CPU Power Connector For?

A motherboard’s 4 pin eps connector is used to provide additional power to high-end processing units and to support high-power draw devices.

The connector is also known as a “Molex” link, named after the famous connector manufacturing company. Because these drives frequently have a 5.25-inch sleek design, the power converter was dubbed a “5.25” connector.

A few of these connectors are usually found on a computer’s power supply, and they mate to male integrations on hard drives and other primary components. The connector is usually made of hard nylon or similar plastic material and is white.

This cable is also known as the ATX12V or P4 cable, but neither of these terms is technically accurate. You won’t need this extra power if your motherboard doesn’t have the extra port.

If your microcontroller has this port, but one’s power supply does not, you will need to either buy a new power supply or an adapter that converts the 4 pins’ external cable into this connector.

What Is The 8 Pin CPU Power Connector For?

8-pin connectors are originally reserved for professional servers and high-end Graphics Cards. The 8-pin connector is now found on a wide range of consumer boards. 8-pin connectors have a 4.2mm pitch and therefore can deliver 150 watts.

Source:.tomshardware.com

These cables are only for powering graphics cards inserted into a PCI-E slot.

It’s possible that your power supply has more than one of these cables, just like the ARX-12V cable, as well as some video cards, would then require 2 of them.

It can deliver up to 150W of power to the graphics card from the PSU’s 12V rail.

It is usually observed on cards that require a lot of power. You can operate more focused cards that catch so much power from the grid with 8 pins.

Do You Need Both 8 Pins And 4 Pin CPU Power?

The answer is that you do not need to connect the board’s additional 4 pin CPU power connector along with an 8-pin connector. You’ll be perfectly fine without it. The 8-pin connector should be enough to power the system.

The 4 pin is only for extreme overclocking, and no one does it because it starts to burn hot and heats up a room. However, wealthy people may do and maintain the room cool by using a water cooler.

Furthermore, the 4 pin is for added stability when overclocking

and so on.

If you’re not trying to push the motherboard or CPU too hard, the extra four-pin connector isn’t necessary. Basic computing and gaming will not be required.

The 8pin connector must be plugged in if you’re heading to supercharge the CPU. If you’re not using the 8pin connection, you should. It’s listed as an option in the manual. It isn’t required for the normal operating condition or even a minor overclock.

Do I Need Both 8 Pin CPU Power Connectors?

Unless you’re overclocking with LN2, most customer desktop CPUs won’t draw enough power to necessitate the second connection. Dual 8-pin connectors are usually just a marketing gimmick, especially if they’re close together on the motherboard.

Dual 8 pin connectors are helpful in certain situations, such as when using a workstation CPU or Intel’s higher-end HEDT lineup.

336W of power can be safely managed by a single 8 pin EPS 12V connector. The pins in the connector and socket are usually the limiting factor. Under normal circumstances, this is more than enough for the vast majority of consumer windows pc CPUs.

If you plug two 8-pin cables into the motherboard, your power supply will short-circuit, destroying it as well as the circuit board or graphics card it was connected to.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What Is The Purpose Of The Additional CPU Power Connector?

It may be required for higher current demands, such as excessive overclocking or massive video card current draws.

This converter is used to supply the motherboard with an additional 12V current. At the same time, the circuit will most likely continue to function without it.

Will A Four-pin CPU Connector Fit Into An Eight-pin Socket?

A 4 pin cable could only insert into the appropriate portion of the 8 pin socket. At the same time, the 4 pin plug on your current power supply should suffice.

Is It Possible To Turn On A Motherboard Without A CPU?

You can confirm the motherboard LEDs to see if it’s on, but without the CPU, you won’t be able to do anything with the computer. A few motherboards will not switch on at all without the CPU, but the majority will.

Conclusion:

I hope this article brings you information about motherboard CPU powers and the headers connected with them.

How many CPU powers are sufficient, and should either 4 and 8 pin power connectors be used simultaneously? In case of any query regarding the topic, you can drop a comment below.

Anthony