I recently bought a power supply from Amazon for my PC build, as recommended by PCPartPicker, but I've run into an issue. The power supply is lacking the necessary connectors—specifically, it's missing a 4-pin power connector for the motherboard, and my GPU needs dual 8-pin connectors.
According to PCPartPicker, "Note: The MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS ATX AM4 Motherboard has an additional ATX 4-pin power connector, but the Thermaltake Smart 600 W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply does not have any available. This connector is used to supply additional current. While the system will likely still run without it, higher current demands may require it."
So, my main question is, is it really safe to run my setup without the extra power connectors?
6 Answers
You only really need one 8-pin for the Ryzen 3600X, so it should work without fussing over the extra connection.
With a Ryzen 3600, that extra 4-pin really isn’t a requirement. Most CPUs won't demand that extra power anyway, so you should be fine!
Generally, it's okay to run it without that extra connector, but it's a good idea to look up your motherboard manual. Sometimes it specifies if that connection is necessary. If you're using a low power CPU like the Ryzen 3600, it’s probably fine. Also, consider getting an M.2 drive—it really speeds up your boot time compared to a SATA SSD! Just a heads up, try not to get roped into overpaying for components.
Yeah, I went for a SATA because my motherboard didn’t include an M.2 heatsink. Turns out, used parts can have their quirks!
The extra 4-pin isn’t necessary for the Ryzen 3600. Your setup should work fine with just the 8-pin for the CPU and it has enough connectors for the GPU as well! However, be mindful that your PSU is rated quite low at tier F, which means it lacks good protection features. I’d recommend replacing it with a higher quality unit for better safety—maybe something in tier C or better.
Yikes, I didn't realize there was a tier system! Is it safe to keep using it until I get a replacement?
I've been running a 7800X3D for two months without the 4-pin connector, and I haven’t encountered any problems. I meant to check on getting one later, but it slipped my mind until now!
It should work, but there could be stability issues without that connector. Just keep an eye on it while you're using it.
Absolutely, M.2 drives usually have a noticeable performance edge over SATA—totally worth it!