noob question about mobo connector

[Subversion]

Hey guys,

I recently installed a new power supply, and I have a question about the 20 + 4 pin motherboard connector. My old PSU only had 20 pins, and not the extra 4, but my motherboard has a spot for the extra 4.

should i plug the extra 4 in? what diff does this make?

 

[Spazmatic]

If I remember correctly the board will run without the extra 4 pin power, but it's always nice to have power where its needed if you know what i mean.

 

[chickenbeef]

Plug it in

 

[DJNgoma]

AFAIK and what I googled up from Uncle Tom...

The extra four pins supply a second 12V rail to prevent too much amperage draw on one wire. The new spec calls for one 12V for the CPU, and the second for the motherboard/peripherals.

So ATX spec 1.2 was 20pin and ATX spec 2.0 is 24pin.