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IT Support & Hardware · Foundational

EPS 12V Connector

A 4-pin or 8-pin power connector that provides dedicated 12 V power to the CPU voltage regulators.

Definition

Located near the CPU socket, the EPS (or ATX12V) connector feeds the CPU's voltage regulator modules. High-end boards may have two 8-pin connectors. Forgetting this cable results in a system that spins fans but never POSTs.

Example

Plug the PSU's 'CPU' 4+4 cable into the 8-pin header at the top-left of the motherboard.

Exam tip

A system with fans spinning but no POST after a build: check the CPU power connector.

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