Are you putting together your first PC?
And got confused seeing a huge chunk of cables?
And Couldnt find where to connect the CPU cable?
Not long ago, I built a brand new PC from scratch.
Connecting the power supply takes a toll on me.
I nearly fainted and was dazed seeing so much cable of PSU.
So I researched on the internet and found the easiest way to connect all the cables of PSU.
So Worry Not!!
Read this article, and your confusion will go away in no time.
Also, in the article, I will give you some Pro tips, so read it thoroughly.
Where should you Connect CPU Cable?
The cable that powers the CPU is called EPS cable.
ButCPU and PCIe cable are different.
When you build a pc, the main hassle is managing the cables.
The power supply looks like a many-legged Squid when you venture to build your first PC.
The cables of the PSU are constructed in different ways so that they can perform different purposes.
Like the SATA cable used for connecting the SSD and HDD of your PC.
However, the PCIe and EPS are identical in looks but serve different purposes.
For their similar looks, many users get confused.
The PCI-e cable is 6+2pin.
On the other hand, the EPS cable is a 4+4pin cable.
For this, The PCIe is used for connecting the GPU and EPS for the CPU.
The CPU Connector has 4 12V lines and 4 Ground lines, while a PCIe cable has 3 12V.
So the EPS cable has more power than the PCIe cable.
For this reason, the PCIe cable wont be able to run on the CPU.
4pin vs. 8pin: Which One is Better for You?
Generally, the EPS power connector has 4+4pin or 8pin.
The 4pin provides the base power that runs the CPU.
So you may ask why there is an extra 4pin socket?
The extra 4pin socket is for stability when you overclock your PC.
Overclocking Pc needs extra power as well as heavy gaming.
So the motherboard suited for those kinds of uses generally has an 8pin EPS connector.
Thus the extra 4pin connector is not needed if you are doing the base computer stuff.
But for heavy-duty work, the 4pin isnt sufficient.
There is a risk of burnout CPU/PSU if you use a 4pin connector in heavy-duty work.
However, Cheap motherboards are equipped with only a 4pin connector.
If thats the case, then connect only 4pin to the motherboard.
Keep in mind you cant do heavy-duty work in those kinds of motherboards.
But beware, there is a good chance of getting a shock of 24Volts.
So take necessary precautions.
What are the Available Power Cables?
Cables work as a bridge between two different components.
And the PSU cables make way for the power to reach other components.
There are usually 5 types of cable in PSU.
This mainly provides power to the whole motherboard and its components.
Currently, most MOBO has 24pin connectors in case of 20pin.
The main reason is the extra 4pin powered the PCIe slot in the motherboard where You insert your GPU.
However, High-end GPU will need additional power to operate.
Firstly, read the manual and ensurewhich PSU cable you need.
The CPU power connector mainly powers the processor socket.
For the similar look of Both PCIe cable and EPS cable, they are both labeled.
Otherwise, it will be hard to differentiate between them.
Nowadays, EPS cables differ in terms of PSU asPSU cables are not universal.
The 4-pin supply 155W, the 8pin 235W, 12pins provide 390W, etc.
These cables provide the necessary power for stabling Heavy-duty CPU; otherwise, a 4pin slot is enough.
The PCIe cable provides power to the GPU.
So for those cases, PCIe cable comes to play.
At present, for power-hungry GPUs, different PCIe cables are available.
SATA cable is mainly known for serial advanced technology attachment cable.
This cable mainly powers up your SSD or HDD.
But Your M.2 SSD port doesnt need a SATA cable to power up.
Molex connector did provide more power than SATA cable.
But for user inconvenience, Molex cables were replaced by SATA.
Cable Management Tips
The PSU has many long cables of different sizes and structures.
If you dont manage your cables, the PC will look like a maze.
Also, cable management maximizes the airflow, limits the dust buildup, and restricts the loose line.
So here are some Cable Management Tips for you.
Conclusion
In short, the CPU cable fits into the pins beside the processor socket.
And then, you would need the 8-pin connection to trigger the CPU.
If you have any other quarry, fill free to ask me.
