Motherboard Connectors
In this video from ITFreeTraining I will look at all the different connectors on the motherboard. If you are planning on building a computer or upgrading a computer, you will need to understand what all these connectors do and how to plug them in.
Download the PDF handout: itfreetraining.com/handouts/ap...
Motherboard Diagram
0:14 Every motherboard, I have yet to see one that has not, will have a diagram in the manual showing the locations of all the connectors on the motherboard. If you have trouble locating a connector, have a look in the manual. If you don’t have the manual, you will be able to download a copy from the motherboard manufacturer’s website.
Main Power Connector (P1)
0:33 To start with, I will have a look at the main power connector, otherwise known as the P1 connector. The connector will be 20 or 24 pins in size. The 20-pin size is an old connector and unless you’re working with an old computer you won’t come across it. Most power supplies will have a 24-pin connector that can be divided into a four pin and 20 pin plug if required.
With some power supplies, the connector will be all one part and cannot be divided. If you come across this and need the 20-pin connector you have two choices. You can purchase an adapter to change the 24-pin plug to a 20 pin plug or you can attempt to plug it in anyway. It will go in, but will be a tight fit and four of the pins will be hanging out of the plug. Just make sure if you do this that you are plugging it in the right way.
You will notice this P1 connector is 24 pins, however it can be divided into two separate plugs. This motherboard has a 24-pin connector so I will combine it back into one plug.
Every connection on a motherboard nowadays is keyed. This means it is not possible to put a connector in the wrong way unless you use a lot of force which most likely will damage something in the process. If you find you are having to force a connector, double check the plug, you probably have it the wrong way around.
You will notice that the plug on the motherboard has a small notch. This will hook onto the latch on the plug. I will now plug in the P1 connector. When the P1 connector goes into place, you should hear a click.
The click is the latch on the plug; once you hear that, you know the P1 connector is in place. Once the P1 connector is plugged in, five volts of power is supplied to the computer continuously. Essentially the computer is in standby mode and this five-volts powers standby devices. For example, if you have wake-on-LAN, the five volts allows the computer to monitor for a wake-on-LAN event and start the computer up. It is possible to have devices like the keyboard start the computer from standby if your computer supports it.
As time moved on, computers required more and more power. First, the 20-pin connector was not enough and then the 24-pin connector was not enough.
P4 Connector
2:54 In 2003 the power supply standard was updated to include what is commonly referred to as the P4 connector. The P4 connector is a four-pin cable supplied by the power supply. It supplies the motherboard with additional power.
The P4 connector is generally near the CPU. Like the P1 connector, it can only be plugged in one way and you should hear a clicking noise when it is in place. Don’t get this confused with the extra four pins of the P1 connector. These connectors are not compatible and are keyed differently.
If you find that your power supply does not have the P4 connector, you can always purchase an adapter cable. In some cases, you will find that some of the older motherboards may still work without a P4 connector. You may start experiencing problems if you add new or additional video cards that use a lot of power. New motherboards tend to require the P4 connector and won’t start up without it.
The extra power supplied by the P4 connector was good, but as time passed, there was a need for even more.
EPS 12V
4:00 To provide more power to the motherboard, the four pin P4 connector was expanded to an eight-pin connector. This is called the EPS 12V. Most of the time it will be referred to just as the EPS connector.
Description to long for KZread. Please see the following link for the rest of the description. itfreetraining.com/ap/1b90
References
“The Official CompTIA A+ Core Study Guide (Exam 220-1001)” Chapter 3 Position 8196-8785
“Power supply unit (computer)” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_s...)
“Computer fan control” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compute...
“M.2” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.2
“Trusted Platform Module” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted...
Credits
Trainer: Austin Mason ITFreeTraining.com
Voice Talent: HP Lewis hplewis.com
Quality Assurance: Brett Batson www.pbb-proofreading.uk
Пікірлер: 450
The best and the most complete explanation of motherboard cables and sockets.
@xshock_dreamz3711
Жыл бұрын
Bro wrote this like a quote on the back of a book
Nothing has helped me more than your videos... So complete knowledge, enabling you to handle technical issues, looking forward for the next video!!
Excellent, excellent video. Here's someone who knows how to teach. THANK YOU!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
What a great and reliable source of information! Thanks for creating this masterpiece.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hello! I just want to say, I've been building computers for a while now, but you touched on stuff that I never knew or could never get answers too. Thank you. I hope you keep making these videos!!!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad I could help!
Excellent assistance with no needless commentary. Helped me figure out the front panel connection on an older Gateway computer (a nightmare without help). I have gladley subscribed
@itfreetraining
9 ай бұрын
Thanks, glad we could help. We are re-do this video at the moment trying to make it better.
Everyone gangsta until they have to do cabling
@Tofilux
3 жыл бұрын
The pain of a new builder
@Kairibeachga
Жыл бұрын
Frrrr
FINALY …A DETAILED VIDEO THAT EXPLAINS IT WITH SIMPLICITY!! THANK YOU SOOO VERY MUCH! Brings the fun back into it instead of the painful frustration! 😉 😁😁🍎❤️
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
KZread is like an old library with a shiny new front sitting with thousands of classics in back...Most of the time one just enters the shiny new front and thats enough...But sometimes to solve mysteries and find the truth one needs to go past the front in the old classic section...And when one does that you see the real value of the library...Today i stepped into the classic section to satisfy my urge of digging deep...And i find this video...Congratulations and keep enriching the classic section of KZread where the deep mysteries will be solved in present and future...
This is one of the most practical and informative knowledge base educational videos made by this gentleman. Those who claimed themself a PC builders in theory are just putting those parts together like the old days when we jigsawed those toy model cars that came with a small battery motor. They are not building anything at all! Very few to none that explain how the technical part works nor where the electrical wire should go and how it works.
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, glad you liked the video.
Extremely well presented and extremely helpful information. I haven't played with the motherboard for at least 30 years now. So many things have changed.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much.
A good indicator of one's mastery of a particular subject is how simple they can make it for others to learn. This person obviously knows his stuff
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, glad you liked the video.
This is one of those timeless videos that people can come to learn appreciate the great knowledge
@itfreetraining
6 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
I don't mind watching a video this long, if it is this good
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it.
this video is gold!!! thank you so much, i cant descirbe how much useful infomation i have learn in these short 30 min. Thank you
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching.
broken it down makes it seem so user-friendly and easy to use. I can’t wait to start making soft! Thanks again!
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
You are so welcome!
I just took my 10 year old PC apart (knowing part of the content in this video) and put it all back together with a new CPU cooler (yes, it works). This video explained so much of what I learned. I probably should have watched it before I pulled cables but I still learned a lot by watching it after.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, glad we could help. Hope your new cooler is working well.
At last, a clear explanation without waffle or repetition. Thank you. 🏆
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you sir; you have explained the subject in clear and easy to understand manner.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
You are most welcome
You people are my kind of people let's make you money! Ford once said The Industrial, adapted to his quotes, kept them in business, gave away my product, and sold my parts. The idea is to make it idiot proof! When people build replacement parts, Andrei sell hobby parts me I just want to say I built mine and it looks different thank you for allowing me to view this I believe in helping one another thanks there's money in your direction you already know that I hope gave different ways to generate funds the next is making it so people without credit cards purchases is hard so many ways to get me hooked I liked the wire harnesses and parts ty
I've seen many explanations of how to connect plugs to a MB, but this is absolutely the best.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it helped
you are honestly the best. Thank you for all of the videos.
@itfreetraining
4 жыл бұрын
Glad you like them!
I made the mistake to not plug the P4 connector. Thanks to this Video I was able to figure this out. Awesome.
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
Glad it helped
I wish i had seen this video before building my own pc, it would have saved me A LOT of worriing and helped me out a lot. Still made it first try though. This video is pure gold, may a bit dry but still awesome
@itfreetraining
9 ай бұрын
Glad I could help!
Thank you. I don't have to purchase another Power Supply. You saved my ass.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad we could help.
Very informational video deserves a like and subscribe. I would love to see more content from this channel❤️
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the sub!
Thank you.Very useful and very well explained 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you so much. Precise, clear and easy to understand.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
The absolute best video on these topics. Thank you.
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Great use of photos, thank you so much!! My professor gives us text to read, told us the book is optional. So we have no idea where it corresponds in the book, according to his syllabus, gee thanks. His CompTIA pdf's don't have all the connectors listed! (former teacher here, his assignments drive me crazy and cause me extra hours of research because he's not providing thorough resources, or resources that even match what he expects us to know and troubleshoot and apply.) Definitely going to save this one for later and watch it all the way through. Tonight, I'm just trying to get this assignment done. Ugh. Thanks again!
@itfreetraining
4 ай бұрын
Glad we could help. There is a pdf download in the description if you wish to download it.
Why was i so lucky to find this video.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching.
Very easy to understand. Thank you!
@itfreetraining
4 жыл бұрын
Great to hear!
amazing video i was really worried to not being able to build my own pc but this video is gold and gave me the confidence, keep up the good work
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad I could help
Excellent the most informative easy to understand video I’ve ever seen. Well done I wish they were all this good 👍
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is a great effort and explanation, thanks for your time.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Fantastic video. Very informative and the information is conveyed in a way that makes is very understandable.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Great video.Well explained about the cables specific use.Vey useful for IT technician Engineers.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
ifreetraining: well done, you pitched this at the perfect level (at least for me)!
@itfreetraining
9 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for the feedback! I'm glad to hear that you found the training well-pitched and at the right level for your needs.
great technical video with enough descriptions
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, glad you liked the video.
This is the greatest video for beginners EVER MADE. Thank you!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much.
This gives me vibes of being in university back in 2005 and watching a video from the 90's, yet it's a new video with modern information, I love it haha! Thank you for this video!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Yea, I know what you mean. This course will be the last to use this format. New course after this is using a new format and will be in 4k.
@Death666wish
2 жыл бұрын
@@itfreetraining I personally really enjoyed it, nostalgic feeling yet with new stuff, but I know not everyone might like it, thanks again! It was very helpful and you guys are part of the reason I am sitting here typing on my half new PC :D Good luck with all your courses, I'll subscribe to you, you never know what you'd need in the future!
ty, there’s no words would do justice to the gratitude I have nevertheless, ty.
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
Thanks very much for watching.
I actually learned a lot! Great video.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Thank you!
Best video ever about motherboard connectors, thank you :)
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
I finally understand the cables I seriously was struggling. I feel better now.
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
Glad we could help.
Really great series thank you so much for this information 🔥🔥do not stop
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching.
Saved me a expensive trip to Microcenter just to install my modular 1000 watt PSU thanks man!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad I could help!
It's highly educational! I really learned a lot. Thank you very much, sir.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video, perfect presentation !
@itfreetraining
6 ай бұрын
Thank you very much!
Great information. Thank you!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching.
Wow thanks so much! I thought it will be boring but you said lot of useful information so it was fun to watch
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
learned a few things I was not sure about while in the process of DIY my new rig, many thanks to you for the awesome video 🐱👓🍁🙋♂️
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad we could help.
Great video, wish I had watched it before my last build.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks glad we could help.
Great video, thanks for taking out time to do this
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Finally! I found a video that clearly illustrates and explains motherboard connectors/connections. I'd like to ask though, is it possible to wire a two prong toggle switch between that that 24 pin cable and PSU?
@itfreetraining
3 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked the video. I am not sure what you are asking. It is possible to buy cables or adapters which allow two PSU to be used together on the same computer. This is generally used for mining. I have used one before and they work quite well. You can see an example of one here. www.scorptec.com.au/product/power-supplies/accessories/69884-ac-005-cnonan-p1 I have not used one before, but there are some power supplies that support two computes. They are rare and possibly the only the company that makes it. I could be wrong. www.phanteksusa.com/products/phanteks-revolt-x-power-supply?variant=12550351257655
@angrysocialjusticewarrior
3 жыл бұрын
What is a "two prong toggle switch"? Never heard of such a thing in my life. and this switch goes in between the 24 pin cable and the PSU? That doesn't sound safe. Or were you referring to an adapter with dual 24 pin headers that can power dual systems?
@vedeledev
3 жыл бұрын
@@angrysocialjusticewarrior a two prong toggle switch is basically a toggle switch with two contact points only. I call it that because that's what I saw. I'm thinking of cutting the green ps_on cable from the 24 pin power cable and putting a toggle switch in between. I have no idea if that's okay.
@itfreetraining
3 жыл бұрын
@@vedeledev I know what you are referring to now. If you have a look at the following video it will explain which wires you need to use. kzread.info/dash/bejne/g6p9uNamdtSYk9o.html It would be possible to add a power switch to a PSU. You can also purchase an adapter to do this. See below. www.amazon.com/CRJ-24-Pin-Switch-Jumper-Sleeved/dp/B01MSY4966/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=1+x+24-Pin+Female+ATX+%2F+EPS+PSU+Jump+Starter+Bridge+With+Power+Switch+%28N016%EF%BC%89&qid=1606268099&sr=8-2
Superb explanation ,I loved it👍
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much.
Helping a ton on my first pc build thankfully there's vida like this
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad we could help.
I am glad to see 👀 this vedio thanks a lot and right now I am University student in garissa I wish you long life
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
Thanks and welcome
#NT49 thank u sir for all visual presentations & for loud n clear explaining.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
So nice of you
8:40 Mini Molex connectors are still useful for powering mini converter cards. For example, I have cards that allow Compact Flash cards to be attached to the motherboard to act as a HDD, which is faster than mechanical drives and can replace old IDE drives at a lower cost.
@itfreetraining
3 жыл бұрын
I found it "2.5" Drive Bay IDE to CF Adapter Card". Thanks for pointing this out. I will keep it in mind for future videos.
Making pc building simpler, amazing
@itfreetraining
9 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching.
Excellent overview!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you.
Loved it. Great video. Subscribed.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much.
Great videos brother!
@itfreetraining
4 жыл бұрын
Appreciate it!
What. An. Amazing. Video. You sir have earned yourself a subscriber!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks and thanks for the sub.
Very good explanation
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks and welcome
Very informative and explanation is also top level
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it
Very useful tips. Thanks
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
very informative , thanks mate
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
Very well put together video. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to your next video. :)
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank hoy my pc works now because of this video i am so grateful
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad we could help.
Clear explanation. Thank you
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
A great lesson THANK YOU
@itfreetraining
9 ай бұрын
You are welcome!
Thank. very detail training. excellent.
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching.
Love you guys ❤️
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much.
Best tutorial you will see
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you think so!
This is gold, Sir. Thank you.
@itfreetraining
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching.
Excellent explanations, thank you! I had just bought a Gigabyte x570s Aorus Pro Ax, and - being fairly novice - this was my first time seeing a P4 and EPS on the same motherboard. Your really well done video helped a lot! So you now have a new subscriber, I am looking forward to watching move of your videos 🙂
easy to understand, thank you!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it helped!
Best video so far
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching.
wish i knew all this 15 years ago, would have saved me a lot of trouble during upgrades and OCing
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad we could help.
Thanks for sharing people the basic knowledge 🙂
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure
Better than a birthday! Thanks alot.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Happy birthday and thanks for watching.
Thanks for the great video.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching.
Thank you so much. I was blind but now I see. Better......
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad to help
Outstanding. Thank you very much. Regards.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Many thanks!
Thanks for this video!!!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching.
very good, very informative
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Great video!
@itfreetraining
4 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
Very useful, thank you very much.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks.
the best video ever!
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks.
this video is golden
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much.
Just what I needed for my motherboard switch, I gotta do the rest of it tomorrow. The instruction manual with my PC sucked and was barely in English so...yeah.
@itfreetraining
7 ай бұрын
I hope all went well putting your motherboard together.
@MasudaOfKorriban
7 ай бұрын
@@itfreetraining It went wellish lol, it almost fried though because of a molex adapter I hate them now! But everything went alright surprisingly. Ty for the video.
thnk U alot itfreetraining
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
You are most welcome
thank you so much you helped me alot !
@itfreetraining
Жыл бұрын
You are welcome!
This is very useful video
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad we could help.
Nice one, thanks.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you too!
very useful video thank you
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
You are welcome
Thank you for the video, just the video i needed to identify the USB headers on my motherboard. I'm looking to connect a USB adapter so i can power LED strip lights from the motherboard USB headers.
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad we could help.
wow this literally answered every question i was having
@itfreetraining
2 жыл бұрын
Glad we could help.