Build your own computer

Step 13 Power!!!

Now we finally get to plug the whole thing in.

There are 5 power connecters we will use:
-Motherboard main
-Motherboard 12v
-Molex (for optical drives, some hard drives and some motherboards)
-SATA
-Floppy

The motherboard main will come in a 20 or 24 pin setup. The cable coming from the power supply will let you take off 4 pins to use in a 20 pin motherboard. Plug this one onto the motherboard first (check pictures for reference).

The motherboard 12v will come in a 4 or 8 pin connector. Again the power supply cable will allow you to take off 4 pins if nessesary. Both the main and the 12v will only go in one way.

The molex connector (4 pins in a flat and half round plug) will be used for the most applications. Most optical drives and IDE hard drives will use it. The motherboard might use one too. Just plug them in where ever you see a connecter for one. There is only one way to place them.

The SATA power is used only by SATA devices. They are very flat. Just plug them into your hard drive.

If your case fan is not yet plugged into the motherboard or a molex connecter, do so now. It may use a 3 pin fan connector like the processor fan. Use any available 3 pin connectors that look like the processors (pic below)

Comments

[DXM]

Dont forget some Video Cards require you to use the black 6-pin from the power supply. You could use a special Molex adapter but if the one straight off the power supply is available use it, it is cleaner power.

[bmlbytes]

I'm adding a tips page and will put all of these tips (slightly modified) in it. Thank you very much