Connect The Motherboard To The Power Supply

The EPoX 8RDA+ motherboard is ready to be connected to the power supply. Sort out the motherboard power connector from the tangle of power cords coming from the power supply and plug it into the power supply socket on the motherboard. The picture has the power connector and power socket circled in blue. The connector can only plug into the socket one way.

It should look like this.

The power supply has an exhaust fan. Most power supplies need to have a power connection made for the exhaust fan to work. Seems strange doesn't it? I mean, most things connect to the power supply. Yet somehow the power supply fan needs to connect outside of the power supply. But that's the way it is much of the time. The connector may be a 3-pin connector, such as with the power supply I'm using, or a 4-pin connector. The connector may be labeled as being for the power supply fan, which is helpful, but it's not labeled with the power supply I'm using. Even so, it's easy to pick out as the lone 3-pin connector cord coming from the bundle of power supply cords.

The connector is a standard 3-pin connector.

The 3-pin connector for the power supply fan can be plugged into any 3-pin socket on the motherboard. There are three on the EPoX 8RDA+ motherboard, labeled FAN1, FAN2, and FAN3. The first two are closer to the power supply, but I'll actually use FAN3, circled in red on the EPoX 8RDA+ motherboard below, even though it is clear across on the other side of the computer case. The reason is that FAN1 is meant for the CPU cooler fan where its spinning can be detected in the BIOS, and FAN2 is convenient for the exhaust computer case fan since it has a short cord. Fortunately, the cord for the power supply fan connector is plenty long enough to reach, even allowing for tucking it out of the way. The 3-pin connector is keyed to the socket so that it cannot be plugged in the wrong way around. If the cord hadn't been long enough to reach then one option would be to use a 3-pin to 4-pin converter to connect the fan to one of the 4-pin power connectors coming from the power supply.

This is how it looks when connected.

Next: Computer Assembly - Connect the EPoX 8RDA+ PN1 and PN2 Indicators
Or:   Computer Assembly - Connect the MSI K8N Neo Platinum PN1 and PN2 Indicators

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How To Build A Computer. Step By Step Instructions To Assemble. Skip To Any Assembly Step.

	Parts List [go]
	Tools [go]
	Antistatic Wrist Strap [go]
	Computer Case and Power Supply [go]
	Motherboard [go]
	Processor, CPU Cooler and Thermal Compound [go]
	RAM - System Memory [go]
	Video Card [go]
	Monitor [go]
	Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	Floppy Drive [go]
	Hard Drive [go]
	CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW [go]
	Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Modem [go]
	Install the Processor onto the Motherboard [go]
	Install the CPU Cooler [go]
	Install the RAM - System Memory [go]
	Install the Motherboard into the Computer Case [go]
	Install the Video Card [go]
	Connect the Power Supply to the Motherboard [20-pin Connector  or  24-pin Connector]
	Connect the PN1 and PN2 Indicators to the Motherboard [KS-282 to EPoX 8RDA+  or  Sonata to MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Ready the Monitor [go]
	Ready the Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	First Boot [go]
	First Boot Common Problems [go]
	Install the CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW Drives [go]
	Install the Hard Drive and Floppy Drive [PATA Hard Drive  or  SATA Hard Drive]
	Connect the Speakers (if using built-in sound) [go]
	Second Boot [PATA  or  SATA]
	Configure the BIOS Parameter Settings [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Test The Hard Drive [PATA  or  SATA]
	Install a Second SATA Hard Drive For RAID (optional) [go]
	Install the Operating System - Windows XP [on PATA hard drive  or  on SATA hard drive]
	Driver Installation [go]
	How To Copy Big Files From Another Computer Using Just a Floppy Drive [go]
	Install the Modem [go]
	Install the Motherboard Chipset Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Monitor Driver [go]
	Install the Video Card Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Install System Information Utility - EVEREST [go]
	Diagnostic Test - DirectX [go]
	Speed Test - System Memory (RAM) Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Hard Drive Performance [PATA and SATA results]
	Speed Test - CD Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Total System Performance [go]
	Stress/Torture Tests [go]
	Connect Front Panel Ports For Audio, Firewire and USB 2.0 [go]
	Install Rear Panel Ports For Firewire And USB 2.0 [go]
	Install The Computer Case Fans [go]
	Post Assembly Needs [go]
	Graduation [go]
	Video Card Driver Settings [go]
	BIOS Flash Update [go]
	BIOS Settings [go]

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