20PIN PSU vs 24PIN MOBO??

[Glenn9643]

My Chaintech VNF4 Mobo just arrived along with AMD 64 3000 CPU and 1G Corsair ValueSelect RAM. My PSU is ANTEC TruePower 480 with a 20-pin connector. The Mobo has a 24-pin connector.
Each connector has a "latch" connector device at the center on one side. Should the PSU 20-pin connector be inserted into the Mobo connector "centered" so that the latching connectors line up, with two open pins on each end of the Mobo connector? If the PSU connector should be aligned with one end of the Mobo connector leaving 4 mobo pins vacant on and end, how can I determine which ends to align and which pins should remain vacant? The POS manual with the Mobo only says to "Plug in the ATX power cable to the mainboard's power connector and make sure the cable is connected". Also, there is no mention in the Mobo manual of the 4pin black/yellow 12v connector, but there's a connector on the Mobo labeled PW3. As the connectors seem to fit am I to assume that this PSU connector should be plugged into PW3? Thanks for any help here.

 

[furballi]

A 24-pin connector has the EXTRA +12V, 3.3V, 5V, and COMMON terminals at one end of the connector. Read your motherboard's manual and skip these terminals when you plug the 20 -pin power supply. You should see four unused pins at one end of the main plug on the motherboard.

 

[Glenn9643]

First, thanks for the reply. I've read the manual, such as it is, and there is no diagram anywhere related to the connector wiring. As I posted above, "The POS manual with the Mobo only says to "Plug in the ATX power cable to the mainboard's power connector and make sure the cable is connected". Also, there is no mention in the Mobo manual of the 4pin black/yellow 12v connector, but there's a connector on the Mobo labeled PW3." I need to determine which four pins to leave open...

 

[CrispyFried]

It should fit only one way, the extra 4 pins will be on one side.

 

[Glenn9643]

OK. I've found threads here and other forums with pictures and detail indicating how the connector should be inserted.
I've connected the PSU connectors, including the 4pin molex black/yellow connector for the CPU, to the Mobo as pictured in threads where the system was operating. RAM, CPU, and graphics card installed. Powered up... and nothing. No beeps. No CPU fan. No Mobo fan. I've tried attaching the case power leads for the front switch but it made no difference. I've removed and reinstalled the RAM, CPU, and graphics card. There's power going to the PSU, but when I power up nothing happens. Not even the PSU fan...
How can I determine if it's the Mobo, CPU, or what so I can RMA? Thanks for any advise...

 

[IntegraGSR]

this may sound silly, but did you flip the power switch on the back of the PSU?

 

[Glenn9643]

That's how I've been trying to "fire it up". I've also tried the case switch to no avail.

 

[drewski]

the switch on the back of the PSU isn't going to "fire up" your computer. it needs to be on, but it's the front switch on the case that's going to fire things up.

the best way to determine what component, if any, is defective is to swap parts into a known working computer.