You can plug a 20 pin PSU into a 24 pin MOBO... but it might or might not work. It seems that the extra 4 pins are for some of the more demanding motherboards, and for PCI-e video cards

Or use an adaptor


From here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Akasa-PSU-20-...7563595QQihZ021QQcategoryZ45342QQcmdZViewItem

I know I'm beginnning to sound like a broken record, but the thing is this PSU worked fine as I have it now, without any such adapters.

Apart from the PSU, is it possible any other hardware components may be causing this blank screen?

You've had both, I feel

It has to be some conincidence for 2 PSU's to die in two days.

Here in this link (http://store.compute-aid.com/spec/atxps24.html) my 20 pin looks exactly like it does in that bottom pair of pictures.

Your video card just needs more power

The extra 4pins (12V) will make it work

The 20 pin power supplies may still be ok (in a less demanding system)

You have:
3d video
harddrive
dvd drive
fans

You need more power (ie 24pin

I understand what you are saying, but how does that explain everything working before with the same PSU?

Because you touched it (and that's the truth of it)

It must be the M/B or the card or something is drawing, ever so slightly, more power

Perplexing...

I'll go out for a new PSU and let you know the results of that.

Hey Nimbus,
Let’s put some things to rest:
The power supply worked in the other computer because it only needs the 20pin connecter on the main power.
Boards that have a 24pin connector with only the 20pin installed, (like you have here), will run everything including (in some cases) onboard \intergraded Video. BUT the extra 4pins on the main power connection on your new board are dedicated to the PCIe slot. Just like the extra dedicated 4pin connector for the CPU (shown in your picture, black and yellow wires just above the main power ).
If you don’t plug the 4pin connector in for the CPU, the board won’t boot but the CPU fan will spin and everything else will power on.

So, in conclusion..... If the extra 4pins on the main power connection are NOT hooked-up, the card won’t do anything but spin its fan.

Trust me I’ve been doing this for over 10 years. Ok, don't trust me too much, everybody makes mistakes. Though I’m 99.99999% sure this is the problem.

I just hope the card will be ok after taking it apart. While your pick'n up a new PSU, get some thermal paste if you can, just in case your card starts overheating, you may have to goop-up the heatsink. I would also download a Temperature App to monitor your cards Temp while playing games.


Think of it this way:
Once everything is settled and you stop hating your PC, you will have learned more in this short time than someone who only knows how to replace their Video Card. And you get bragging rights because you learned the Old-Fashioned way

Hope everything works out for you. Good-on-ya for persevering.:grinthumb

You did read this didn't you:

But I've already commented Why above

I understand what you are saying. The only possible causes of failure I can think of are:

- the M/B or the card or something is drawing, ever so slightly, more power (as suggested by kimsland)

- plugging the psu into the other computer changed something in the psu.

I'm not too phased about my graphics card. The clip design is there to ensure no contact is made and there is still a decent amount of paste there. The card isn't overclocked and is rarely put under HEAVY stress (i.e. games)

Anyhow, thanks a bunch to everyone for the help. I'll get the new PSU over the next couple days (fingers crossed that works)!

Please reply back (in a couple of days) when you get the new 24 Pin plug (+4Pin) ~550Watt PSU (hopefully also with Sata power - this way you're updating)

I'd like to know if it works too.

LOL. I dont beleive it!

I was about to ask you whether you thought 550 watts was too much and was going to give you a list of my specifications. I had forgotten how many GHz my cpu was so I took off the heatsink to see if it was listed on the chip. It wasn't.

So anyway, put the heatsink back on powered it up and NOW I HAVE PICTURE!!!

What does this suggest if anything?

Whaaat ! :grinthumb

Resolved

thanks again for helping me with my TWO problems!! :grinthumb :grinthumb

Wow, sounds like the chip wasn't seated in correctly.

Don't play any heavy GFX games, you don't want to pop that PSU.

I'm glad you got it working. Guess your board can run the PCIe slot with 20pins after all. And thanks to you I've learned something. :rolleyes:

The chip was seated properly and locked in. My initial thought after it got working was that the CPU may be overheating or the cpu fan may not have been getting enough voltage (replugging it in may have rectified this). There was a fair bit of thermal paste though albeit baked solid.

CPU or HeatSink must have been loose or had incorrect contact.
Thanks for the update.

Ahh yes, the power to the CPU would definitely cause the PC not to boot.

An overheating CPU will, in most cases, start the system but it will shutdown fairly quick or will lock-up after it boots.

Glad you got it working again

KZ Out.