Member Avatar for tagz017

i'm planning to replace my old cpu's motherboard (that was almost 10 years ago) with a new one, with better specs so that i can make use of it and improvise it. Does it also need a new power supply? Need your advice guys. thanks

  • 2 Contributors
  • 2 Replies
  • 112 Views
  • 1 Day Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by tagz017

Dani AI

Generated

A new motherboard does not automatically pick a power supply — you do. As hinted, physical connector compatibility is important, but there are several other things to check before fitting a new board into an older system.

  • Capacity and +12V capability: modern components draw most of their power from the +12V rail; check the PSU label for the +12V amperage, not just the total wattage.
  • CPU and GPU feeds: some motherboards need a dedicated CPU power lead and many GPUs require one or more PCIe power plugs — confirm the types and counts the board and cards require.
  • Drive and accessory plugs: count how many drive/adapter power leads you will need.
  • Physical fit and form factor: some cases require short or small-form power supplies.
  • Age and quality: electrolytic capacitors in PSUs wear out with time; a decade-old unit is a higher risk. Cheap, generic supplies are the most common cause of component failures.

Practical steps: check the new motherboard manual for required power plugs; read the sticker on your current PSU to see what it supplies; run a power estimate with a calculator such as PCPartPicker's power-supply calculator (https://pcpartpicker.com/power-supply-calculator/); if the old PSU is several years old, under-specced, or from an unknown manufacturer, replace it with a reputable unit that gives 20–30% headroom and an 80 PLUS Bronze or better rating.

Given that is replacing a near-decade-old motherboard, replacing the PSU is often the safer, lower-risk choice than relying on an unknown, aged supply. For general PSU background and safety notes see Power supply unit (computer).

Recommended Answers

All 2 Replies

Member Avatar for disophisis

If your cpu is way old you may need to upgrade a lot of components. A new motherboard entails new memory standards, new CPU sockets, and new storage interfaces (like SATA).

For your question though, you really just need to look at the main power (the biggest one) They come in 3 selections: 20-pin, 20+4-Pin, and 24-Pin main power. Just make sure that if you buy a motherboard you get the powersupply to match (with the main power) 20+4 pin is usually good because you can use it on either 20 pin motherboards or 24 pin motherboards.

Good luck!

Member Avatar for tagz017

thanks disophisis

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.