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Difficulty: MediumMotherboards Form Factors and Connectors

A desktop computer powers on when the power button is pressed, but the fans spin continuously at maximum speed, no video signal is sent to the display, and the system fails to complete the Power-On Self-Test (POST). Upon inspecting the motherboard, a technician notices that while the 24-pin main ATX power cable is securely attached, an 8-pin header located near the CPU socket remains unpopulated. Which of the following power supply connectors should the technician plug into this motherboard header?

  1. A
    PCIe 8-pin (6+2 pin) power connector
  2. EPS12V 8-pin (4+4 pin) power connectorAnswer
  3. C
    SATA 15-pin power connector
  4. D
    Molex 4-pin peripheral power connector

Answer

EPS12V 8-pin (4+4 pin) power connector
The EPS12V 8-pin connector (frequently split into a 4+4 pin configuration for backward compatibility) is specifically designed to provide dedicated +12V power to the motherboard's CPU power delivery circuits located adjacent to the CPU socket.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the unpopulated motherboard connector location and its function
The unpopulated 8-pin header near the CPU socket is responsible for supplying dedicated auxiliary 12V power to the processor.
Modern CPUs draw substantial power that cannot be supplied safely through the primary 24-pin ATX main power connector alone.
2
Match the correct power supply unit (PSU) cable to the motherboard CPU power header
The EPS12V 8-pin (or 4+4-pin split) cable matches the keying and voltage layout of the socket.
EPS12V connectors deliver ground and +12V power to the processor's power delivery phase components.

Key Concept

Motherboard Power Connectors and CPU Auxiliary Power
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Topics

Motherboards Form Factors and Connectors

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