Los cables de alimentación de 8 pines 12V ordenador

8 Pin 12V Power Cords and Power Cables: Whats the Difference?

Computers are so common in the workplace and at home that users rely on manufacturers knowledge about using their power. However, its advisable to have at least a basic knowledge of how power is carried via cords and cables from your home or workplace electrical system through the computer.

Power cords and power cables transfer electricity from your wall socket throughout your computer.

• Power cord: The power cord is the wire you use to carry power from the wall socket to the power supply unit (PSU) inside your computer.
• Power supply unit: The PSU is an adapter that converts the AC 120V power found in your wall socket to low-voltage DC power.
• Power cable: Power cables transfer low-voltage DC power to various parts of the computer.

Power cords are regulated to IEC 60320 standards. This means that the power cord is certified by the International Electrotechnical Commission to carry AC 120V power to any household device. The IEC power cord has a male end (C14) that plugs into the wall socket and a female end (C13) that plugs into the computer. The cord offers a convenient means of drawing power from whatever location your computer is near. The power cord is specifically designed to carry power to the internal adapters in these machines.

There are several different types of power cables inside your computer that transfer power to various parts. Each cable has a specific purpose and design. Grounds and live power are serviced by separate wires that make up the cable. Cables come in two principal categories and with several designs. Most come with an 8-pin coupler that connects to the PSU. Some have an 8-pin delivery coupling; others may be 4-pin or 6+2-pin or a variation of those possibilities.

• EPS 12V 8-pin ATX: This delivers power from the CPU to the motherboard. The motherboard already has a main power coupling with the CPU. This cable became necessary in updated computer models to provide extra power demanded by additional parts. The top left connector has a distinct squared-off pin design that allows connection only to the appropriate parts.
• The 8-Pin PCI Express (PCIe) power cable: This supplies power to a graphics processing unit (GPU). The cables are similar to EPS ones; however, the top left connector of a PCIe cable is rounded off. The different designs allow power to be carried and grounded along different routes. The design difference is necessary due to the divergent needs of the parts. You cannot use one to replace the other.
• Other formats: Although the 8-pin format of the EPS power connector is fairly constant, the 8-pin design of the PCI cable differs between manufacturers to a large degree. Some PCI cables come in a 6+2 format. Others come in a 4+4 format. If you are considering introducing a different manufacturers GPU into your system, then note the difference in cable design before tearing down your unit.