The power supply converts alternating-current (AC) power coming from a wall outlet into direct-current (DC) power, which is a lower voltage. DC power is required for all of the components inside the computer.
Most connectors today are keyed connectors. Keyed connectors are designed to be inserted in only one direction. Each part of the connector has a colored wire with a different voltage running through it. Different connectors are used to connect specific components and various locations on the motherboard:
Molex connector is a keyed connector used to connect to an optical drive or a hard drive.
Berg connector is a keyed connector used to connect to a floppy drive. A Berg connector is smaller than a Molex connector.
A 20-pin or 24-pin slotted connector is used to connect to the motherboard. The 24-pin slotted connector has two rows of 12-pins each, and the 20-pin slotted connector has two rows of 10-pins each.
A 4-pin to 8-pin auxiliary power connector has two rows of two to four pins and supplies power to all areas of the motherboard. The 4-pin to 8-pin auxiliary power connector is the same shape as the main power connector, but smaller.
Older standard power supplies used two connectors called P8 and P9 to connect to the motherboard. P8 and P9 were unkeyed connectors. They could be installed backwards, potentially damaging the motherboard or power supply. The installation required that the connectors were lined up with the black wires together in the middle.
NOTE: If you have a difficult time inserting a connector, try a different way, or check to make sure there are no bent pins or foreign objects in the way. Remember, if it seems difficult to plug in any cable or other part, there is something wrong. Cables, connectors, and components are designed to fit together snugly. Never force any connector or component. Take your time and make sure that you are handling the hardware correctly.
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