F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop The motherboard and PSU power connectors appear mismatched.

The motherboard and PSU power connectors appear mismatched.

The motherboard and PSU power connectors appear mismatched.

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NBlock413
Junior Member
2
08-30-2021, 10:32 PM
#1
Hi, I'm setting up a new PC for my parents and facing an issue with the power connectors not aligning. I'm using the Corsair CX-M Series CX550M PSU and the Gigabyte B450M DS3H WiFi board. The manual lists the pin layout on the motherboard, but the PSU cable doesn't seem to match. I noticed the PSU uses an EPS 12V connector, which is different from the ATX standard. Should I replace the PSU, the motherboard, or is there a compatible adapter to switch between them?
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NBlock413
08-30-2021, 10:32 PM #1

Hi, I'm setting up a new PC for my parents and facing an issue with the power connectors not aligning. I'm using the Corsair CX-M Series CX550M PSU and the Gigabyte B450M DS3H WiFi board. The manual lists the pin layout on the motherboard, but the PSU cable doesn't seem to match. I noticed the PSU uses an EPS 12V connector, which is different from the ATX standard. Should I replace the PSU, the motherboard, or is there a compatible adapter to switch between them?

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EGXC_RUNNER
Member
213
08-31-2021, 07:13 AM
#2
It seems the setup might be a bit off. ATX 12V is one row and ground the other, which fits perfectly since the key pins match. Most of the square sockets have edges trimmed, so it should work fine. The reason it varies on some PSUs isn’t a big concern.
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EGXC_RUNNER
08-31-2021, 07:13 AM #2

It seems the setup might be a bit off. ATX 12V is one row and ground the other, which fits perfectly since the key pins match. Most of the square sockets have edges trimmed, so it should work fine. The reason it varies on some PSUs isn’t a big concern.

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iiSweeTzz
Posting Freak
862
08-31-2021, 09:05 AM
#3
Pins 1 through 4 are the top four and serve as ground, while the remaining ones form the bottom row at 12 volts. This information comes from the motherboard manual.
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iiSweeTzz
08-31-2021, 09:05 AM #3

Pins 1 through 4 are the top four and serve as ground, while the remaining ones form the bottom row at 12 volts. This information comes from the motherboard manual.

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CrimsonNacho
Member
208
08-31-2021, 01:01 PM
#4
Apologies for the confusion. The issue seems to be with the 12V in the brackets instead of GND. That’s why it’s causing the problem.
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CrimsonNacho
08-31-2021, 01:01 PM #4

Apologies for the confusion. The issue seems to be with the 12V in the brackets instead of GND. That’s why it’s causing the problem.

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KindOfAKing
Member
228
09-02-2021, 01:40 PM
#5
It seems the design adjustments worked out now. The EPS 12V connector indeed features one row for 12V and another for ground, which should resolve any compatibility issues with your motherboard.
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KindOfAKing
09-02-2021, 01:40 PM #5

It seems the design adjustments worked out now. The EPS 12V connector indeed features one row for 12V and another for ground, which should resolve any compatibility issues with your motherboard.

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crazyone23
Member
147
09-03-2021, 01:43 AM
#6
They work exactly the same in practice. The EPS12V was initially created as a non-standard connector for servers, while desktop PCs required only 4-pin ATX12V. As desktops transitioned to 8 pins, adopting the standard ATX12V_2 made more sense.
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crazyone23
09-03-2021, 01:43 AM #6

They work exactly the same in practice. The EPS12V was initially created as a non-standard connector for servers, while desktop PCs required only 4-pin ATX12V. As desktops transitioned to 8 pins, adopting the standard ATX12V_2 made more sense.

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JBgames_jurne
Junior Member
20
09-03-2021, 04:13 AM
#7
Initially, motherboards relied on a simple 4-pin connector for CPU power. As processors became more demanding, makers switched to the EPS 8-pin header, commonly found on servers. Servers then added an 8-pin connector with a distinct design. The shape of each pin varied—some featured a D form, others a square—and this variation prevented fitting a square pin into a D slot. Some power supply companies tweaked the 8-pin EPS connector to be more adaptable, allowing it to split into two 4-pin sections. This enabled compatibility with older 4-pin connectors. On the other hand, PC power supply makers adjusted the EPS connector slightly to make it more versatile, enabling it to be divided into two usable parts. This setup lets a single cable serve both a 12V power line and a ground connection. The PCI-E 6 pin follows a similar pattern, though its rows are reversed: the row with the retaining clip holds 12V on the EPS/ATX header, while the other row with the clip contains GND.
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JBgames_jurne
09-03-2021, 04:13 AM #7

Initially, motherboards relied on a simple 4-pin connector for CPU power. As processors became more demanding, makers switched to the EPS 8-pin header, commonly found on servers. Servers then added an 8-pin connector with a distinct design. The shape of each pin varied—some featured a D form, others a square—and this variation prevented fitting a square pin into a D slot. Some power supply companies tweaked the 8-pin EPS connector to be more adaptable, allowing it to split into two 4-pin sections. This enabled compatibility with older 4-pin connectors. On the other hand, PC power supply makers adjusted the EPS connector slightly to make it more versatile, enabling it to be divided into two usable parts. This setup lets a single cable serve both a 12V power line and a ground connection. The PCI-E 6 pin follows a similar pattern, though its rows are reversed: the row with the retaining clip holds 12V on the EPS/ATX header, while the other row with the clip contains GND.