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Difficulty: MediumMotherboards Form Factors and Connectors

A computer technician is assembling a desktop workstation and connecting cables from the power supply unit (PSU) to the motherboard. After successfully connecting the 24-pin ATX main power connector, the technician needs to provide dedicated auxiliary power to the processor socket. Which of the following power connectors should be plugged into the 8-pin port located adjacent to the CPU socket?

  1. 8-pin EPS12V power connectorAnswer
  2. B
    8-pin PCIe power connector
  3. C
    4-pin Molex power connector
  4. D
    15-pin SATA power connector

Answer

The 8-pin EPS12V power connector is the correct choice for supplying dedicated auxiliary power directly to the CPU socket on the motherboard.
The 8-pin EPS12V power connector (or 4+4 pin CPU power cable) delivers dedicated +12V power directly to the processor via motherboard voltage regulator modules located adjacent to the CPU socket.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the power requirements for the central processing unit (CPU).
Modern CPUs consume significant electrical current beyond what the 24-pin ATX motherboard main connector can deliver.
Dedicated +12V power lines are required near the processor socket to feed the CPU Voltage Regulator Module (VRM).
2
Evaluate the matching motherboard header and cable standard.
The 8-pin port located near the CPU socket matches the EPS12V standard (often split as a 4+4 pin connector on modular PSUs).
Connecting an EPS12V cable ensures correct voltage delivery and prevents system instability or POST failure.

Key Concept

Motherboard Power Connectors (EPS12V vs PCIe vs ATX)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Motherboards Form Factors and Connectors

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