M2-ATX and the P4 cable

blackcobra487 · 02-26-2008, 01:37 AM

Is the P4 cable required only on Pentium 4 systems? I'm interested in this mobo/cpu combo and can't figure out if I'll need the extra cable or not. If anyone knows, please help me out. Here's the combohttp://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...=MBM-A13G-3500

galvitron · 02-26-2008, 04:36 AM

Remember that the MB is the centerpiece and first decision of every system. If you already have a MB that requires it, then make sure you get a PSU that has it (the P4).

If your motherboard is not chosen yet then choose carefully based on budget.

I'm implying a lot from your first statement so let me answer directly:

- An M2-ATX may not handle that CPU/MB depending on how many watts that CPU takes at peak HP. Note: I'm including the 20 or so USB devices everyboby runs these days...

- That price is VERY good. I advise you to remember that you get what you pay for.

If you can manage the cash, a Mobile Core 2 Duo only takes 35 Watts peak.

DarquePervert · 02-26-2008, 07:27 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by blackcobra487

Is the P4 cable required only on Pentium 4 systems?

It is required if the motherboard requires it.
My setup is an AthlonXP based system that requires the 4-pin P4 cable.

SkaLou · 02-26-2008, 01:46 PM

So does my Athlon 64.

blackcobra487 · 02-27-2008, 01:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by galvitron

Remember that the MB is the centerpiece and first decision of every system. If you already have a MB that requires it, then make sure you get a PSU that has it (the P4).

If your motherboard is not chosen yet then choose carefully based on budget.

I'm implying a lot from your first statement so let me answer directly:

- An M2-ATX may not handle that CPU/MB depending on how many watts that CPU takes at peak HP. Note: I'm including the 20 or so USB devices everyboby runs these days...

- That price is VERY good. I advise you to remember that you get what you pay for.

If you can manage the cash, a Mobile Core 2 Duo only takes 35 Watts peak.

I don't plan on using nearly that number of USB devices. There will be a touchscreen, USB Keyboard, GPS antennae and a USB DVD drive sometime in the future.

Considering I would use that Mobo, the CPU fan, and a 3.5" hard drive with 2GB (I'm thinking of lowering it to 1GB) and the USB devices, do you think the M2-ATX would be enough? I've heard of some calculator that helps estimate power, anyone have a link for me?

galvitron · 02-27-2008, 12:59 PM

Yeah 20 was an exaggeration...

M2 will probably cut it. The definitive answer is based on the amount of Watts your CPU draws at peak. This motherboard requires Athlons which are pretty hungry power wise. Have you decided on a CPU model?

What you do NOT want to do is push the M2 to its limit or close to it.

blackcobra487 · 02-27-2008, 02:52 PM

I haven't decided anything for certain. I just came across that Mobo/cpu combo and thought it was a good deal. I'm not 100% sure on how I'm going to do anything else.

galvitron · 02-27-2008, 03:22 PM

Here's some info to use when shopping for CPUs for this board:

Energy Efficient models available at 65 Watts max power:AMD Athlon 64 X2 processors: 4800+, 4600+, 4400+, 4200+, 4000+, and 3800+
Energy Efficient models available at 35 Watts max power:AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor: 3800+
AMD Athlon 64 processor: 3500+
AMD Sempron processors: 3400+, 3200+, and 3000+

Link:
http://www.hothardware.com/articles/...RD5801/?page=2

blackcobra487 · 02-27-2008, 04:36 PM

The Cpu that I was going to buy was the AMD Athlon 64 3500+. Now I know how much power it's going to draw. I don't think I'll have any trouble with power with the few devices I'm going to use. Thanks for all the help.

galvitron · 02-27-2008, 04:39 PM

No problem. Glad I could help.

blackcobra487 · 02-28-2008, 01:52 PM

Ok, after looking over some more specs for the mobo I noticed that the ATX connector on the mobo is a 24 pin. Isn't the M2-ATX a 20 pin? This wouldn't work, would it? I've looked at other mobo's on the same site and noticed that 24 pins seems to be standard. How would I power one of these in a car?

galvitron · 02-28-2008, 02:01 PM

You can get an adapter that will change to 24 pin. I think it is just more 12V and GND connectors. Shouldn't affect the M2.

blackcobra487 · 02-28-2008, 02:42 PM

Thanks for the tip. I'll look into it.