My first build: *Problem*

KieranO

KieranO

KieranO

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18 Jan 2011
Posts
21
Hello I am currently building my first budget computer by myself and I have got up to connecting the wires to each other. I have looked at many PC building tutorials on Youtube, and on Overclockers, but none really make sense (in my eyes).

I am extremely new to computers and like i said, this is my first ever build.

I have a Coolermaster Elite 430 Windowed Case - Black (with 500w Elite Power PSU), and an Asus M4A78LT-M LE AMD 760G (Socket AM3) Motherboard. Has anyone had any experience of using these two components because I do not understand how to connect the power cables to the motherboard as the Asus Manual is telling me i should have a 24 pin cable to connect into the 24 pin slot, although instead i have a 20 pin cable and another separate 4 pin cable which the manual is telling me should fit into 'ATX 12' slot but does not fit, although it fits nicely next to the 20 pin cable. :confused: :confused:

Other specs:

AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 840 "95W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 16MB Cache Hard Drive SATA II 300MB/s 11ms 7200rpm
OCZ Platinum 4GB PC3-10666 1333MHz Extra Low Voltage

Sorry for the nooby-ness.

Thanks for any help!
 
Your Psu shouldhave a 24 pin ATX connector which goes into the big power port on the mainboard, sometimes these come as a 20 pin plug with 4 extra pins. You should also have a seperate 4/8 pin plug that fits into your cpu power plug usually found around the cpu area. This will either be a 4 pin or 8 pin plug.
 
The 24 pin cable that plugs in to the mobo splits of into two. 1 20 pin cable and 1 4 pin cable which is on one cable.

Here is an image of what is looks like:
psu20%204pin.jpg


This cable goes here:

No hotlinking!

Also, you should have another cable on your power supply which is a 4/8pin and connects to the top left of your motherboard.

:)
 
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Your board needs a 4 pin cpu power connector which will be a seperate lead it could be an 8 pin plug split into 2 4 pin plugs. Only one of these will fit easily into the Boards cpu power socket. The power socket is right of the cpu..
 
Yes that is what it looks like! But i have a few (i think 2) 4 pin cables that would fit into the top right port, what one is it? -Thanks
 
KieranO said:
Yes that is what it looks like! But i have a few (i think 2) 4 pin cables that would fit into the top right port, what one is it? -Thanks
Click to expand...

Is one not joined to the main 20 pin atx plug..? It should look like it attaches to it and snugly fit into the motherboard socket...
 
KieranO said:
Hello I am currently building my first budget computer by myself and I have got up to connecting the wires to each other. I have looked at many PC building tutorials on Youtube, and on Overclockers, but none really make sense (in my eyes).

I am extremely new to computers and like i said, this is my first ever build.

I have a Coolermaster Elite 430 Windowed Case - Black (with 500w Elite Power PSU), and an Asus M4A78LT-M LE AMD 760G (Socket AM3) Motherboard. Has anyone had any experience of using these two components because I do not understand how to connect the power cables to the motherboard as the Asus Manual is telling me i should have a 24 pin cable to connect into the 24 pin slot, although instead i have a 20 pin cable and another separate 4 pin cable which the manual is telling me should fit into 'ATX 12' slot but does not fit, although it fits nicely next to the 20 pin cable. :confused: :confused:

Other specs:

AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 840 "95W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 16MB Cache Hard Drive SATA II 300MB/s 11ms 7200rpm
OCZ Platinum 4GB PC3-10666 1333MHz Extra Low Voltage

Sorry for the nooby-ness.

Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...

A 20 pin cable should be fine for that motherboard. It says so in the manual aslong as you're not running a power hungry graphics card and lots of drives. Still need a decent PSU though, at least 450w minimum which it looks like you have. I'm using a 20pin cable in mine with no fuss. I have the same motherboard and CPU as you.

However, you look like you have a 24pin plug seperated as in the picture plus another 12v plug? The 12v cable plugs in completely seperately to the main 20/24 pin cable and will only fit in 1 slot I think. With this motherboard the 12v slot is above and slightly to the left of the CPU socket.
 
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if there is 2 4pin cables, plug 1 of them into the port, It doesn't matter which :)

Edit:

This:
No hotlinking!
 
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KieranO said:
Yes one 4 pin is connected to the 20 pin, but does not fit into the other port..
Click to expand...

That one should fit into the main socket next to the 20 pin connector making a 24 pin connector. They can be a snug fit and make sure you have the connector the correct way round..
 
That 4 pin should plug in right next to the main 20 pin (making it 24 pin) as if it is 1 plug. The other 4 pin goes into a different socket, top left of the board.
 
The 20 plus 4 pin should go into a power thing together. and the 4/8 you have extra go onto another part of the motherboard. I have just built my first PC build. wait till you get to the connecting the power switches LOL. my cables didn't have any +'s or arrows LOL so I didn't know what side was positive :S LOL
 
Which fan? Rear or front case fan? There is 1 case fan slot on the motherboard - Far left middle on the board. I use it for my rear case fan. If it's front case fans then these usually plug into the main PSU molex connectors but you might need some adapters for them. I have to use 3 adapters for my 4 case fans. Google "fan 3 pin to molex" and do an image search.
 
I have a 3 pin to molex which you said to google. does this then plug into the molex cable from the psu? if so, i tried this but it would not fit..


EDIT: Sorry me being a noob thanks for the help, it does fit. :)
 
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