4 pin connector on PSU

[Garyj881]

Theres two 4pin connectors on my mobo but i have only ever had one 4pin power connector from my psu going to it, the other has a plastic cap on it.

My question is should i have both 4 pin connectors plugged in?

Other thing i have a 1950pro and only one power connector going into it providing 18A, is this enough or do i need to connect two into a splitter into the card supplying 36A?

I think the card requires around 24A but can you confirm this?

 

[BillytheImpaler]

If you have both connectors on your PSU you should plug both into the mobo. The plastic is there to block one off so as to indicate to people who only have one "P4" connector which socket to use.

24A? I don't think so. The numbers I've seen quoted for the 1950 Pro put its power consumption in the 80-95 watt range. At 95 W you're drawing 7.92 A on the 12 V rail.

 

[Garyj881]

Thanks Billy i'll pop it in now.

Would that explain the flucuation i get with my fsb?

 

[BillytheImpaler]

Perhaps. That power is meant for the CPU. It can't hurt to give it more power.

 

[Kobrakai]

Would that explain the flucuation i get with my fsb?

That might be speedstep, A feature that lowers your FSB when your system is idle to save power and reduce heat. You can disable that in the BIOS by turning off EIST and C1E.

 

[Garyj881]

Already disabled it, my fsb fluctuates only slightly by a few mhz's.

Also could this be limiting my overclock as i can't get above 3040mhz (380 x 8).

 

[Aod]

Already disabled it, my fsb fluctuates only slightly by a few mhz's.

Also could this be limiting my overclock as i can't get above 3040mhz (380 x 8).

thats normal. the clock is based on the oscillation of a small crystal on the motherboard which has a frequency of about 27.004 MHz, but i can (and does) fluctuate by a bit depending on temperature and such.